European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, mirroring Wall Street gains, as expectations of multiple U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts lifted investor sentiment worldwide. Lower borrowing costs are seen as a major relief for global bond markets, while the U.S. dollar eased slightly.
Indexes in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan hit record highs, supported by optimism around artificial intelligence earnings. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.6% for the day and 3.7% for the week, while South Korea jumped 1.1%, adding more than 5% weekly. Chinese blue chips reached their strongest levels since early 2022, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan gained 1.2%.
The latest U.S. inflation data showed consumer prices staying moderate, reinforcing expectations of policy easing. Analysts at Citi now forecast core PCE inflation holding at 2.9% in August, supporting their outlook for 125 basis points of Fed cuts over the next five meetings. Markets are pricing in a 100% chance of a September cut to 4.00%-4.25%, with a strong likelihood of additional reductions this year. U.S. Treasury yields fell 20 basis points in two weeks, easing mortgage rates and boosting risk appetite.
European shares also rallied, with EUROSTOXX 50, FTSE, and DAX futures up 0.3%. The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged, calling policy “in a good place.” Analysts at JPMorgan expect a possible cut in December, though markets see limited odds of further easing.
In currency trade, the dollar held at 147.23 yen, while the euro firmed near $1.1730. Gold stayed steady at $3,633 an ounce, just below record highs. Oil prices weakened, with Brent at $66.09 and U.S. crude at $62.07, after the IEA warned of a record surplus in 2025 as OPEC output rises.
