BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Asian stock markets traded mixed on Friday as regional holidays kept volumes muted, with Japanese equities rallying near record highs while Hong Kong markets slipped on sharp electric vehicle losses. Investor sentiment was shaped by developments in technology, central bank commentary, and political shifts in Japan.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.6%, approaching all-time highs, while the TOPIX gained 1.3%. The surge was fueled by strong gains in technology shares, led by Hitachi Ltd., which soared 9.5% after unveiling a partnership with OpenAI to collaborate on AI-powered energy and storage solutions. The announcement sparked optimism over accelerated artificial intelligence development in Japan, boosting related stocks such as Renesas Electronics (+8%), Advantest (+3.4%), Tokyo Electron (+2.3%), and SoftBank Group (+3.6%).
Further support for Japanese markets came from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, who flagged economic uncertainties tied to U.S. tariffs and overseas conditions. While Ueda reiterated the potential for future rate hikes if inflation strengthens, his cautious tone suggested the BOJ may not rush tightening. Investors are also watching the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party leadership vote, which will determine the next Prime Minister following Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation. Candidates Sanae Takaichi, Shinjiro Koizumi, and Yoshimasa Hayashi are viewed as leading contenders, with markets anticipating a shift toward less restrictive fiscal policies.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.7% as electric vehicle makers slumped in tandem with Tesla’s 5% overnight drop. BYD slid 4.7%, Li Auto lost 4.2%, and Geely shed 2.4%. Despite Tesla reporting record Q3 deliveries, analysts cited concerns over expiring U.S. EV subsidies and fierce competition in China. Broader Hong Kong tech shares also retreated after earlier gains, though the index still held a 3.7% weekly rise.
Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times rose 0.2%, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.4%, while India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.2% under pressure from U.S. trade tariffs. With China and South Korea closed for holidays, regional trading remained subdued. Meanwhile, Wall Street’s S&P 500 hit another record high, and futures in Asian trade edged up 0.1%, though the U.S. government shutdown cast uncertainty over the release of key nonfarm payrolls data.
