Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
The U.S. dollar drifted toward its weakest weekly performance since late July as traders increased bets on further monetary easing from the Federal Reserve at its December 10 meeting. Although the dollar index inched up 0.1% to 99.624 on Friday, the slight rebound followed five straight sessions of losses that pushed the gauge to its steepest weekly drop in four months.
Market expectations for a Fed rate cut surged sharply over the past week. According to the CME FedWatch tool, futures now reflect an implied 87% probability of a 25-basis-point reduction in December, jumping from just 39% a week earlier. U.S. Treasury yields echoed the shift in sentiment, with the 10-year yield ticking up 0.8 basis point to 4.0037% after sliding for five consecutive days and briefly dipping below the 4% mark twice.
In Asia, the Japanese yen hovered between gains and losses, last trading 0.1% weaker at 156.385 per dollar. Stronger labor market and inflation data reinforced expectations of near-term monetary tightening in Japan, even as persistent yen weakness keeps intervention risks elevated. Tokyo consumer prices rose 2.8% in November, surpassing economists’ forecasts and remaining above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. Analysts at Capital Economics noted that with core inflation expected to remain above 3%, the BOJ is likely to resume tightening in the coming months.
The yen remains on course for a third monthly decline as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pursues a 21.3 trillion yen ($135.4 billion) stimulus plan while the BOJ maintains its cautious stance on rate hikes.
Elsewhere, major currencies held steady. The euro traded around $1.1600 following comments from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy about ongoing talks with the U.S. on a security framework to end the war with Russia. Sterling slipped 0.1% to $1.323 but is still heading for its strongest weekly performance since early August after U.K. finance minister Rachel Reeves announced £26 billion in tax increases to support welfare spending.
The Australian dollar rose to $0.6536 after private sector credit grew 0.7% in October, while the offshore yuan held firm at 7.074 per dollar, on track for its best month since August. The New Zealand dollar traded at $0.5725, easing slightly after its biggest weekly jump since late April.
