Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
The euro soared to a five-month high, reaching $1.0947 in New York before stabilizing at $1.0913 in Asia, following Ukraine’s agreement to a month-long ceasefire proposal. European equity futures climbed, with FTSE futures up 0.3%, while Russia’s rouble hit a seven-month high.
Market volatility persisted as U.S. tariff uncertainty fueled concerns over economic slowdown. Wall Street’s S&P 500 slipped 0.8%, nearing a 10% decline from February’s peak, as President Donald Trump threatened then retracted a tariff hike on Canadian steel and aluminium. Investors fear the back-and-forth on trade policies will disrupt economic growth.
Asia-Pacific shares rose 0.2%, with China and Hong Kong markets steady, while Japan’s Nikkei held firm after hitting a six-month low. Meanwhile, travel stocks tumbled after Delta Air Lines halved its profit forecast, with United and American Airlines warning of deteriorating demand. Retailers also struggled—Kohl’s Corp plunged 24%, and Dick’s Sporting Goods fell 5.7% on weak sales reports.
The Canadian dollar hit a one-week low before recovering to C$1.443, ahead of a key central bank meeting where a seventh consecutive rate cut is in focus. The U.S. dollar weakened, Treasuries rallied, and the yen dipped from a five-month high, trading around 148 per dollar. The Australian dollar remained under pressure at 63 U.S. cents, while Brent crude hovered near $70 a barrel.
Investors await U.S. inflation data for February, though its impact from tariffs may be minimal. As uncertainty lingers over global markets, traders closely watch economic indicators and policy shifts that could dictate the next market moves.
