Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
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 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs Wednesday, driven by strong gains in Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and GE Vernova amid signs of a potential U.S.-EU trade agreement. The deal, expected to mirror President Trump’s prior accord with Japan, could introduce a broad 15% tariff on EU imports, including cars, according to diplomats.
The S&P 500 rose 0.78% to 6,358.91, while the Nasdaq added 0.61% to 21,020.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.14% to 45,010.29, just shy of a record close. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 has advanced about 8% and the Nasdaq nearly 9%, buoyed by optimism over trade and robust corporate earnings.
GE Vernova surged 14.6% after boosting revenue and free cash flow forecasts, benefiting from soaring AI and cryptocurrency data center energy demand. Nvidia gained 2.25%, continuing its leadership in the AI chip market. Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO) also jumped 9% on strong earnings, while Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) plunged 13% after weak guidance signaled soft demand for analog chips, dragging peers like NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) and Analog Devices (NASDAQ: ADI) lower.
Market volatility eased, with the CBOE Volatility Index hitting a five-month low. Investors now await U.S. jobless claims and PMI data for further economic signals. Fed rate cuts are viewed as unlikely next week, with September odds around 58%, per CME FedWatch.
Trading volume was heavy at 19.1 billion shares, above the 20-day average. Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners in the S&P 500 by more than 2-to-1, with 50 new highs recorded.
