Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Wednesday as traders awaited key employment data and updates on trade negotiations led by President Donald Trump. The Trump administration set a Wednesday deadline for countries to submit trade offers, coinciding with the start of a 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum.
Markets are also watching for a possible phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid tensions over allegations that both nations breached last month’s tariff rollback agreement.
Despite ongoing trade tensions, macroeconomic indicators have begun influencing dollar movements again. After a manufacturing contraction pushed the dollar down 0.8% on Monday, a surprise surge in U.S. job openings helped it recover nearly the same amount on Tuesday. The JOLTS report, which is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, showed significantly higher-than-expected figures, boosting sentiment.
By early Wednesday, the dollar dipped 0.09% to 143.82 yen, while the euro gained 0.13% to $1.1385. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, remained flat at 99.159. Traders are now eyeing the ADP employment report due later in the day, ahead of Friday’s critical non-farm payrolls data.
Joseph Capurso, analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, noted that “job openings were much stronger than expected,” adding that with low expectations for the ADP data, even a small upside surprise could lift the dollar and bond yields.
Elsewhere, the Australian dollar held steady at $0.6460 ahead of GDP data, while South Korea’s won rose 0.2% to 1,375.25 per dollar following the presidential election win of liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung.
