South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Global stock markets slipped on Wednesday while gold retreated sharply from its recent rally, as investors reassessed stretched valuations and booked profits. The pullback followed growing geopolitical uncertainty after the planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed, while doubts lingered over a potential meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite recent conciliatory tones from Washington and Beijing, Trump added to the ambiguity, saying the meeting “maybe won’t happen.”
Gold prices tumbled more than 5% on Tuesday, marking one of the sharpest declines this year, before sliding another 0.6% to $4,098.89 per ounce. The metal had surged over 50% year-to-date, driven by safe-haven demand amid global uncertainty and expectations of U.S. rate cuts. Analysts, including Tony Sycamore from IG, attributed the sell-off to excessive speculative positioning and “FOMO-driven” buying, noting parallels with stretched valuations in tech-heavy markets such as the Nasdaq.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index dipped 0.24%, while Nasdaq futures fell 0.2% and S&P 500 futures eased 0.07%. Netflix shares plunged nearly 6% after missing quarterly earnings, while General Motors jumped 15% following an upbeat profit outlook. In Europe, futures also weakened, with the EUROSTOXX 50, FTSE, and DAX down between 0.15% and 0.5%.
Japan’s Nikkei dropped 0.9% after two days of gains fueled by optimism over fiscal stimulus under new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Analysts see “Sanaenomics” as supportive for equities through pro-growth and reform-focused policies. Meanwhile, China’s CSI300 fell 0.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.42%.
In currency markets, the yen weakened 0.8% following Takaichi’s win, while the dollar held firm. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep rates unchanged next week, and the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely anticipated to cut rates by 25 basis points. Oil prices edged higher, with Brent at $61.51 and WTI at $57.46 per barrel, as markets awaited further central bank cues amid a prolonged U.S. government shutdown.
