Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
European stocks opened higher on Monday, buoyed by strong gains across Asian markets and optimism ahead of a busy corporate earnings week. At 07:10 GMT, Germany’s DAX jumped 1%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.5%, and the U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.4%. The positive tone follows last week’s sharp declines, when concerns over the U.S. banking sector weighed on investor sentiment. However, a rebound in U.S. regional bank shares on Friday helped restore confidence.
Asian markets provided a significant boost, led by Japan’s Nikkei 225, which surged more than 3% to a record high above 49,000 points. The rally came after reports that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured enough support to form a coalition government under Sanae Takaichi, who is expected to become the country’s first female prime minister. Known for her dovish fiscal stance, Takaichi is likely to prioritize government spending and resist further Bank of Japan rate hikes, with a parliamentary vote set for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, China’s economy grew 4.8% year-on-year in Q3 2025, slightly above forecasts of 4.7% but slower than the previous quarter’s 5.2% growth. The data reflects ongoing challenges from weak domestic demand, disinflation, and trade tensions with the U.S. In Europe, Germany’s producer prices fell 0.1% in September, marking a 1.7% annual decline, signaling subdued inflation pressures in the eurozone’s largest economy.
In corporate developments, luxury group Kering gained attention after announcing the €4 billion sale of its beauty division to L’Oreal, a move aimed at reducing debt and focusing on core fashion operations. Investors are also eyeing a packed week of earnings, with reports due from L’Oreal, SAP, Barclays, Heineken, Kering, Roche, Unilever, and Lloyds. On Wall Street, major companies including Tesla, Netflix, IBM, and Coca-Cola will also release results.
Oil prices edged lower amid concerns over global demand and a potential supply glut, with Brent crude falling 0.8% to $60.83 a barrel and WTI down 0.8% to $56.72. Both benchmarks have now logged three straight weeks of declines.
