Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Global markets advanced Monday as weak U.S. labor data boosted expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month. Stocks rose and the dollar wavered, while gold hovered near record highs and Treasury yields stayed close to five-month lows. The U.S. economy added far fewer jobs than forecast in August, cementing bets on monetary easing.
Political uncertainty in Japan added volatility after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned, raising questions over future fiscal and monetary policy. Investors are closely watching who will succeed him, with Liberal Democratic Party veteran Sanae Takaichi seen as a potential candidate. A supporter of looser policies, Takaichi has criticized recent Bank of Japan rate hikes. The yen weakened 0.6% to 148.39 per dollar, while the Nikkei surged 1.8%, nearing record highs.
In broader Asia, MSCI’s regional index gained 0.4%, while Chinese blue chips rose 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.35%. U.S. S&P 500 futures climbed 0.19%, and European futures rose 0.45%.
The Fed is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points in September, though traders are pricing an 8% chance of a larger 50 bps move, with 68 bps of easing anticipated by year-end. Analysts argue lower rates are necessary to keep U.S. equities supported against global peers.
In Europe, political risks remain high as French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces a confidence vote likely to fail, deepening the euro zone’s second-largest economy’s crisis. The euro eased to $1.1713, while sterling traded at $1.3492.
Commodities extended gains, with gold at $3,588 per ounce, close to the $3,600 mark after rallying 37% this year. Oil also advanced about 1% as OPEC+ pledged slower output hikes from October amid weaker demand expectations.
