China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Asian markets pulled back on Thursday following a strong tech-led rally earlier in the week, with investors shifting focus to key earnings from Chinese internet giant Alibaba and upcoming remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Sentiment was also weighed by tempered optimism over a U.S.-China trade deal, as tariffs between the two nations remain high and progress toward further de-escalation remains uncertain.
In Asian trading, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1%, reflecting the tepid cues from a mixed Wall Street session where momentum outside tech waned. Tech-heavy Asian indexes, which previously surged on AI-driven optimism and improving trade relations, saw a modest correction. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded flat.
Alibaba shares (HK:9988) edged up 0.5% ahead of its March-quarter earnings, with expectations boosted by rising Chinese consumer spending and growth in its cloud business. Peer Tencent (HK:0700) also gained 0.5% after posting a 13% revenue increase, driven by robust demand in its gaming and advertising segments, aided by AI integration.
However, sentiment on AI stocks cooled slightly after Nvidia-backed Coreweave warned of margin pressures due to rising AI-related costs, sending its shares down 15% in after-hours trading.
Mainland China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indices fell 0.2% to 0.5%, though they remain up nearly 2% for the week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1% as investors turned cautious ahead of GDP data expected to show a Q1 contraction, despite strong capital expenditure and wage growth trends.
Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.1% after a strong jobs report, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed 0.4%. India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%, pointing to a subdued open despite earlier gains fueled by easing geopolitical tensions.
