Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Japan's manufacturing sector shrank for the 10th consecutive month in April, as global demand softened and concerns over U.S. trade tariffs intensified. The final au Jibun Bank Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose slightly to 48.7 in April from 48.4 in March. Although marginally better than the flash reading of 48.5, it remained below the 50 threshold that indicates growth.
Weaker overseas demand, particularly from China, Europe, and the U.S., weighed heavily on output. Export orders fell at their fastest pace since October 2023, while total new orders declined at the quickest rate since February 2024. Japanese manufacturers reported sluggish customer spending and reduced demand for semiconductors and machinery.
Adding to the pressure, ongoing tariffs from the U.S.—especially those targeting automobiles, a key Japanese export—have further dampened confidence. Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, is set to meet with U.S. counterparts this week to push for the full removal of these tariffs.
Business sentiment fell to its lowest level since June 2020, reflecting widespread concern over global economic prospects. Annabel Fiddes, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global, noted that firms are unlikely to see recovery without a rebound in domestic and external demand.
While input costs rose at the softest pace in a year, expenses related to transport, fuel, labor, and raw materials continued to pose challenges for manufacturers. As Japan’s industrial sector navigates prolonged weakness, future recovery hinges on a stabilization in global trade and improved demand dynamics.
