Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian stock markets traded mixed on Monday as investors weighed global cues, central bank policies, and corporate updates. Japanese equities rebounded, with the Nikkei 225 climbing 1.5% and TOPIX up 0.9%, recovering from last week’s drop. The bounce came despite the Bank of Japan’s hawkish signals, as it kept interest rates unchanged but announced plans to gradually reduce its massive ETF holdings. Losses were limited after BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda struck a moderate tone, avoiding commitments on near-term rate hikes.
South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.9%, supported by Samsung Electronics, which surged nearly 5% on reports it secured NVIDIA’s approval to supply advanced AI memory chips. The move positions Samsung to challenge SK Hynix and Micron in the fast-growing artificial intelligence semiconductor market, boosting sentiment in the tech-heavy index.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index extended losses for a third straight session as investors booked profits in major internet stocks, despite continued demand for local chipmakers. Mainland Chinese shares underperformed, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite flat after the People’s Bank of China left its loan prime rate unchanged. Investors remained focused on U.S.-China trade dialogue following progress on TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.4%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed. Futures for India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.1% as markets assessed the potential fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on H-1B visas, a policy shift expected to pressure India’s vital IT and outsourcing sector.
Global sentiment was tempered despite record Wall Street highs last week following a Federal Reserve rate cut. U.S. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1% in Asian trading, as attention turned to upcoming economic data and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
