Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
The U.S. dollar started the week on steady footing, trading at 143.57 yen and $1.1360 per euro, as investors braced for a wave of economic data that could reveal the impact of President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war. Despite stabilizing, the dollar remains on track for its largest monthly decline in nearly two and a half years, having dropped over 4% against both the euro and yen in April.
Signs of easing tensions between the U.S. and China last week, including reduced tariffs and more conciliatory rhetoric, helped the greenback recover slightly. However, uncertainty persists, as Beijing denies active trade negotiations despite Trump’s claims of progress. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also refrained from confirming any ongoing tariff talks.
Markets are now focused on upcoming key indicators, including April’s U.S. jobs report, first-quarter GDP data, and the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, core PCE. A slowdown in hiring is anticipated, potentially influencing the dollar’s trajectory.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar hovered near recent highs at $0.64, with traders eyeing Wednesday’s inflation data ahead of an expected rate cut. The New Zealand dollar also remained firm near $0.60. In Canada, voters head to the polls Monday, but little currency volatility is expected, with the Canadian dollar steady at C$1.3874.
The Bank of Japan will announce monetary policy on Thursday, with no major changes expected. Attention will be on the outlook, particularly amid speculation about U.S.-Japan trade talks influencing currency dynamics. Japan’s top currency official, Atsushi Mimura, denied reports that the U.S. favors a weaker dollar.
