Trump Hopes Iran War Nears End as Yemen Fighting Escalates 
Oil Prices Surge as Houthi Attacks Raise Saudi Supply Fears 
Oil Prices Fall as U.S. Crude Inventories Rise, Middle East Risks Persist 
UK Inflation Rises to 3.1% Ahead of BoE Rate Decision 
US Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Fed Rate Hike 
BOJ Set for 25-Basis-Point Rate Hike as Yen Weakness Fuels Inflation 
Hong Kong Unveils First Five-Year Plan to Boost Finance, Tech and Housing 
China Industrial Output Beats Forecasts as Exports Support Growth 
Saudi Arabia Raises Security Alerts as Houthi Attacks Threaten Oil Routes 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Hits Seven-Week High After Fed Hike 
US Stocks Rise Ahead of Fed Rate Decision 
Gold Prices Steady as Oil Disruptions Boost Fed Rate Hike Bets 
US Futures Fall as Fed Meeting, Oil Surge Rattle Markets 
Asian Bank Stocks Slide as BofA Warning and Rising Yields Hit Sentiment 
China’s Slower Loan Growth Becomes ‘New Normal’ as Credit Demand Weakens 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Asian stocks moved higher on Thursday as investors digested the Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate hike since 2023 and Chair Kevin Warsh’s inflation-focused outlook. The Fed unanimously increased its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%, while projections indicated another increase could come this year.
U.S. stock futures recovered during Asian trading after Wall Street declined following the Fed decision. Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.6%, while S&P 500 futures advanced 0.7%. Money markets are pricing roughly a 50% probability of another Fed hike in October, with a December increase fully priced.
U.S. Treasury yields eased after their recent surge. The two-year yield slipped one basis point to 4.72%, while 10-year and 30-year yields fell about two basis points each.
Across Asia, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.4%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.4%, South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.3%, and Japan’s TOPIX climbed 0.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.1%, while China’s CSI 300 declined 0.4%.
Asian semiconductor stocks were mixed as investors assessed higher borrowing costs and uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence spending. SK Hynix fell 0.9%, Kioxia declined 2%, and Murata Manufacturing dropped 2.4%. Chinese chipmakers also traded unevenly, with NAURA Technology gaining 0.7% while SMIC lost 2.4%.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3%, New Zealand’s NZX 50 climbed 0.9%, and the Philippines’ PSEi gained 0.79%. Thailand’s SET advanced 0.9%.
Oil prices eased as Middle East supply concerns moderated. Brent crude traded near $105.75 per barrel after falling as much as 5% on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia is seeking to restore about half of its East-West pipeline capacity within days following drone attacks.
Investors are now turning their attention to upcoming Bank of England and Bank of Japan decisions. The BOE is expected to keep rates unchanged, while the BOJ is expected to raise rates and signal that additional monetary tightening remains possible.
