Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Asian Stocks Waver as Trump Signals Fed Pick, Shutdown Deal and Tech Earnings Stir Markets 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
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.
