Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
New Zealand’s labor market showed signs of cooling in Q1 2025, with employment inching up just 0.1% and the jobless rate holding steady at 5.1%, near 4.5-year lows. The subdued figures reinforce market expectations for further interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) later this month and throughout the year.
According to Statistics New Zealand, employment growth matched economists’ forecasts, while the unemployment rate came in below the expected 5.3%. The RBNZ had projected a 5.2% jobless rate. Despite emerging from a technical recession in late 2024, New Zealand’s economic recovery remains fragile, pressured by weak domestic demand and global uncertainties tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
The central bank has already slashed the official cash rate by 200 basis points since August 2024 to 3.5%, with markets now pricing in another 25bps cut this month and rates potentially dropping below 3.0% by year-end.
Wage growth also softened, with the private sector labor cost index (excluding overtime) rising 0.4% in Q1, below the 0.5% forecast and a slowdown from 0.6% in the previous quarter. The labor force participation rate dipped to 70.8% from 71%, reflecting a decline in youth engagement as more young people turn to education amid a tougher job market.
ANZ and ASB Bank economists noted ongoing labor market slack and weakening wage pressures point to subdued inflation, supporting further monetary easing. ASB expects an additional 75bps of rate cuts in 2025.
The New Zealand dollar was little changed after the data release, trading at 0.6010, as figures broadly aligned with market expectations.
