Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
U.S. stock index futures gained on Wednesday evening, extending Wall Street’s momentum after a technology-led rally. Investors largely shrugged off mounting global and political risks, instead turning their attention to an upcoming speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which could offer fresh clues on the central bank’s interest rate outlook.
S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 6,806.75, Nasdaq 100 Futures climbed 0.2% to 25,370.75, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.1% to 46,895.0 by 20:04 ET (00:04 GMT). The optimism followed a strong session for U.S. equities, powered by big tech names and expectations of further monetary easing.
The Federal Reserve’s September meeting minutes, released Wednesday, indicated that most policymakers supported more rate cuts to cushion a cooling labor market. However, there was uncertainty about how far rates should fall given that inflation remains stubbornly high. Dovish voices like Governor Stephen Miran pushed for a 50-basis-point cut, though most officials favored a smaller move.
Markets are now focused on Powell’s remarks scheduled for Thursday at 08:30 ET (12:30 GMT), as traders price in another 25-basis-point rate cut in October, according to CME FedWatch data. The ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown has delayed several key economic reports, adding to uncertainty over the strength of the economy.
Despite political gridlock and global worries — including concerns over Japan’s fiscal health and political turmoil in France — investor sentiment remained upbeat. Gold prices surged to new highs as safe-haven demand grew amid global instability.
Wall Street rallied Wednesday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.6% to a record 6,753.72 and the Nasdaq Composite jumping 1.1% to 23,043.38. Tech shares led the charge, driven by NVIDIA’s 2% rise after CEO Jensen Huang highlighted surging AI-driven demand and confirmed an investment in Elon Musk’s xAI. The market now looks ahead to the third-quarter earnings season, with reports from PepsiCo, Delta Air Lines, and major Wall Street banks on deck.
