Stocks Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Decision and JPMorgan Warning Weighs on Markets 
Wall Street Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Decision; Nvidia Gains on China Chip Sales Approval 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Global Markets Steady as Yen Holds Firm After Japan Earthquake Amid Central Bank Focus 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
RBA Holds Rates but Warns of Rising Inflation Pressures 
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 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Oil Prices Dip as Markets Watch Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
The U.S. dollar weakened on Thursday after the Federal Reserve struck a less-hawkish tone than investors anticipated, prompting traders to increase bets on further rate cuts in 2025. While the Fed lowered interest rates by 25 basis points as expected, Chair Jerome Powell’s comments during the post-meeting press conference signaled a more dovish outlook, surprising market participants who were positioned for a firmer stance on inflation.
Analysts noted a clear shift in tone compared to the Fed’s October meeting. Nick Rees, head of macro research at Monex Europe, said the commentary leaned “dovish,” encouraging investors to short the dollar. As selling pressure increased, the euro climbed above the key $1.17 threshold, touching $1.1705—its strongest level in nearly two months. Sterling also gained, reaching $1.3391, and the Japanese yen strengthened 0.25% to 155.64 per dollar, recovering slightly from recent weakness driven by wide interest-rate differentials.
The dollar index fell to 98.543, its lowest since late October, reflecting broad softness across currency markets. Tony Sycamore of IG said traders had expected the Fed to repeat the hawkish tone from October but instead received signals that support risk-asset rallies into year-end.
Market sentiment now leans toward two additional rate cuts next year, exceeding the Fed’s own projection of just one. The central bank also announced it will begin purchasing short-dated Treasury bills starting December 12, with an initial round of roughly $40 billion aimed at supporting market liquidity. The move boosted bond markets, pushing the two-year Treasury yield down to 3.5340% and the 10-year yield to 4.1332%.
Analysts at Societe Generale said the earlier-than-expected T-bill purchases helped spark a rally led by short-term Treasuries. In commodity-linked currencies, the Australian dollar eased to $0.66665, while the New Zealand dollar slipped to $0.5812 after recent highs.
This shift in Fed policy expectations continues to shape global currency flows and investor positioning as markets look ahead to 2025.
