Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Asian markets saw a cautious rebound on Wednesday, buoyed by dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and strong U.S. bank earnings, though persistent U.S.-China trade tensions curbed broader risk appetite. Powell hinted that the Fed may be nearing the end of its balance sheet reduction and left the door open for further rate cuts, reinforcing market expectations of easing later this year. Traders are now pricing in around 48 basis points of cuts by December.
ANZ economist Tom Kenny noted that the Fed could announce the end of quantitative tightening as early as the October FOMC meeting, forecasting 25-basis-point cuts in both October and December. Investor sentiment was further supported by upbeat quarterly results from major U.S. banks and an improved global growth outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.45%, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.8% after a steep decline earlier in the week. U.S. futures also advanced modestly, with Nasdaq and S&P 500 up about 0.1% each.
However, optimism was tempered by escalating trade frictions. President Donald Trump said Washington might terminate certain trade ties with China, while both nations imposed new port fees on shipping companies. The trade conflict intensified after the U.S. introduced 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s expanded export restrictions on rare earth materials.
Meanwhile, European futures rose sharply after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced a suspension of pension reforms until after the 2027 elections, easing investor worries. The euro edged higher to $1.1611, while the dollar weakened amid Fed rate-cut bets. Safe-haven assets like the yen and Swiss franc gained slightly.
Gold continued its record surge, rising 0.9% to $4,179.80 per ounce, while oil prices slipped marginally, with Brent at $62.33 a barrel and U.S. crude at $58.66.
