Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Asian stocks opened cautiously higher on Wednesday as optimism grew that the U.S. Congress would soon end the historic federal government shutdown. The MSCI Asia-Pacific Index (excluding Japan) gained 0.1% in early trade, while investors awaited final approval of a funding bill by the House of Representatives to reopen government agencies shuttered since October 1.
Australia’s ASX 200 advanced 0.2%, boosted by lithium and commodity stocks, while Japan’s Topix rose 0.6%. Market sentiment brightened after the U.S. Senate passed legislation to conclude the record shutdown, with analysts at Westpac noting that a House vote could soon follow.
In U.S. markets, the S&P 500 e-mini futures traded flat after a mixed Wall Street session on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1.2% to a record high, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.3%. With key economic reports delayed by the shutdown, traders turned their attention to ADP’s private jobs data, which showed employers shedding an average of 11,250 jobs weekly over the past month.
Growing concerns over slowing growth have strengthened expectations of another Federal Reserve rate cut. Fed funds futures now price in a 68% chance of a 25-basis-point reduction at the December 10 meeting, up from 62% the previous day, according to the CME FedWatch tool.
The U.S. dollar index slipped 0.2% to 99.45, its lowest this month, while the yen and euro remained steady at 154.13 and $1.1583, respectively. Brent crude climbed 1.6% to $65.09 a barrel, supported by fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and hopes of political resolution in Washington. Gold rose 0.4% to $4,141.35 per ounce, and Bitcoin edged up 0.4% to $103,074.41, reflecting cautious investor optimism across global markets.
