Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Global stocks rose on Friday, heading for a weekly gain as Wall Street optimism lifted sentiment after key central bank moves. The Federal Reserve cut U.S. interest rates by 0.25%, its first reduction since December. Norway and Canada also lowered rates, fueling investor hopes of looser monetary policy worldwide.
In the U.S., all three major indexes set record highs for a second straight session. The Dow Jones gained 0.37% to 46,315.27, the S&P 500 advanced 0.49% to 6,664.36, and the Nasdaq rose 0.72% to 22,631.48. However, European markets dipped 0.16%, while Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.57% after the Bank of Japan announced plans to sell risky assets. Still, MSCI’s global index hit a record 982.29, up nearly 1% for the week.
Analysts said the Fed’s cautious stance left investors balancing optimism with disappointment. While rate cuts support stocks, the Fed emphasized a data-dependent approach, tempering expectations for an aggressive easing cycle. Treasury yields rose slightly, with the 10-year at 4.129% and the 2-year at 3.574%.
Geopolitical developments also shaped sentiment. U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping held their first call in months, making progress on a TikTok deal and scheduling a meeting in South Korea. Meanwhile, a U.S. Senate vote failed to advance a spending bill, raising the risk of a government shutdown on October 1.
The dollar strengthened for a third straight day, rising 0.33% to 97.67, with gains against the Swiss franc but losses versus the yen. The euro slipped to $1.1745, and the pound dropped to $1.3467 after the Bank of England slowed bond sales.
Commodities were mixed: Brent crude fell 1.1% to $66.68, WTI slid 1.4% to $62.68, while gold gained 1.04% to $3,681.79, marking its fifth straight weekly rise.
