Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
U.S. stocks ended higher Friday, securing a second consecutive week of gains as strong jobs data and signs of a potential thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions lifted investor sentiment. The Dow Jones rose 564.47 points (1.39%) to 41,317.43, the S&P 500 added 82.54 points (1.47%) to 5,686.68, and the Nasdaq gained 266.99 points (1.51%) to 17,977.73.
April’s U.S. payrolls report showed 177,000 jobs added, exceeding forecasts and keeping unemployment steady at 4.2%. Despite earlier concerns stemming from a GDP contraction—triggered by a surge in tariff-related imports—the labor data signaled resilience. Strategists noted the slowdown in job growth was milder than expected post-tariff announcements.
Markets also reacted positively to news that Beijing is considering Washington’s offer to reopen trade talks after President Trump’s imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. While the trade war remains unresolved, the partial rollback of tariffs helped U.S. indexes rebound. The S&P 500 is now up 0.3% since Trump’s April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs announcement, and both the S&P and Dow marked their longest winning streaks since 2004 and 2023, respectively.
Big tech delivered mixed performances. Apple fell 4% after cutting its buyback program and warning of $900 million in added costs from tariffs. Meta jumped 4.3%, Nvidia rose 2.6%, while Amazon dipped 0.1%. In energy, Chevron gained 1.6% and ExxonMobil edged up 0.4% on solid earnings.
Block plunged 20% on weak guidance, and Take-Two Interactive dropped 7% after delaying "Grand Theft Auto VI" to 2026. Advancers outpaced decliners by nearly 4-to-1 on the NYSE, reflecting broad market optimism. Trading volume was 16 billion shares, below the recent daily average.
