Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Lots of economic dockets and events scheduled for today but all with low to medium volatility risks associated.
Data released so far:
- New Zealand: ANZ commodity prices rose by 2.7 percent in November.
- Australia: TD securities inflation rose by 0.1 percent in November, up 1.5 percent from a year ago. Companies’ gross operating profit rose by 1 percent in the third quarter.
- China: Caixin services PMI rose to 53.1 in November.
Upcoming:
- Japan: Consumer confidence number for December will be reported at 5:00 GMT.
- Spain: Industrial output for October will be announced at 8:00 GMT, followed by Markit services PMI at 8:15 GMT.
- Italy: Markit services PMI report will be released at 8:45 GMT.
- France: Services PMI report is scheduled to be released at 8:50 GMT.
- Germany: Services PMI at 8:55 GMT.
- United Kingdom: Markit services PMI number will be reported at 9:30 GMT.
- United States: Markit services PMI will be released at 14:45 GMT, followed by ISM non-manufacturing PMI at 15:00 GMT. Fed’s Dudley is scheduled to speak at 13:30 GMT, followed by Evans at 14:25 GMT, and Bullard at 19:00 GMT.
