South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
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.
