RBA Signals Possible Rate Implications as Inflation Proves More Persistent 
U.S. Cyber Monday Online Sales Surge Past $9.1 Billion as Holiday Shopping Momentum Builds 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
U.S. Soybean Shipments to China Gain Momentum as Trade Tensions Ease 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
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 Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Asian stock markets advanced on Monday, recovering part of last week’s losses as renewed expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December strengthened investor confidence. Buying interest returned to the region’s beaten-down technology sector, although overall trading activity was somewhat subdued due to a market holiday in Japan.
Market sentiment improved after Wall Street closed higher on Friday, boosted by dovish comments from Federal Reserve officials. Futures tracking the S&P 500 climbed 0.5% in early Asian hours, signaling broader optimism ahead of key U.S. economic data releases for September, including inflation and labor market indicators. Traders are now pricing in a roughly 67% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut in December—up sharply from last week’s estimates—according to CME FedWatch, driving demand for risk assets.
Across Asia, South Korea’s KOSPI led gains with a 1.2% rise, followed by Australia’s ASX 200, which climbed 1%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 1.3% as investors cautiously returned to tech names. India’s Nifty 50 futures were flat, reflecting a more measured market response.
Chinese stocks, however, underperformed. Mainland markets slipped about 0.3% as chipmaking shares experienced steep declines. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp dropped more than 7%, while AI chip firm Cambricon Technologies also weakened. The sell-off followed reports that the U.S. may allow NVIDIA to resume sales of its advanced H200 AI chips in China, potentially reducing demand for domestically produced semiconductors and raising concerns over China’s tech self-sufficiency goals.
Still, some Chinese tech giants posted modest gains. Tencent edged up 0.7%, Alibaba added 0.3% ahead of earnings, and Baidu rose nearly 2% after a JPMorgan upgrade citing strong AI and cloud growth potential.
Despite recent volatility, investors remain focused on the potential boost that lower U.S. interest rates could bring to global liquidity and risk-driven markets.
