Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
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.
