Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
European stocks traded slightly higher on Thursday as investors awaited key monetary policy signals from the European Central Bank (ECB) and fresh U.S. inflation data. At 07:05 GMT, Germany’s DAX inched up 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.3%, and London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.3%.
Markets remain focused on the ECB meeting in Frankfurt, where policymakers are expected to keep interest rates unchanged. The central bank halved its key rate to 2% earlier this year and has since paused further action as inflation cooled and growth steadied. However, with U.S. President Donald Trump imposing 15% tariffs on European imports, sluggish regional growth, and political uncertainty in France, the ECB is likely to keep the door open for future rate cuts. Inflation is projected to slip below the 2% target in 2026, leaving room for additional easing if necessary.
Investors are also bracing for U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data, which could heavily influence the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week. Headline CPI is forecast to rise 2.9% in August, with core inflation at 3.1%. A 25 basis-point Fed rate cut is widely anticipated, though a sharper-than-expected inflation spike could shift expectations toward a larger move.
In corporate news, Energean Oil & Gas announced over $4 billion in new long-term gas contracts in the first half of 2025, boosting its total contracted revenues to about $20 billion over the next 20 years.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices slipped as U.S. demand concerns outweighed supply risks. Brent fell 0.1% to $67.41 a barrel, while WTI dipped 0.2% to $63.57. U.S. crude inventories jumped by 3.9 million barrels last week, with gasoline stocks also rising unexpectedly, raising fresh concerns about weakening demand in the world’s largest energy consumer.
