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 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian shares climbed Monday, fueled by strong demand for tech giants like Nvidia, Alphabet, and Amazon, pushing S&P 500 futures to a fresh all-time high. Nasdaq futures rose 0.3%, while S&P 500 e-minis added 0.2%. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1%, South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.5%, and MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan edged up 0.1%.
The bullish sentiment came despite caution over U.S. fiscal policy. Investors are watching progress on President Trump’s massive tax-and-spending bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates could add $3.3 trillion to U.S. debt. Meanwhile, Friday’s holiday brings U.S. non-farm payrolls data forward, with economists forecasting a modest 110,000 job gain and a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3%.
Weaker labor data could boost odds of a July rate cut from the Federal Reserve. JPMorgan’s Michael Feroli noted that rising continuing claims and falling consumer confidence point to softening job conditions. A higher unemployment print could shift futures to price in deeper cuts beyond the currently expected 63 basis points for 2025.
U.S. Treasury yields held steady at 3.27% as easing expectations supported bonds despite concerns over ballooning deficits. However, the dollar weakened on expectations of slower growth and rate cuts. The euro hovered at $1.1731, sterling at $1.3719, and the yen strengthened to 144.48 per dollar. The U.S. dollar index slipped to 97.163, with Capital Economics warning further declines may trigger a broader selloff.
Gold prices fell to $3,266/oz as risk appetite returned, while oil extended its losses. Brent crude dropped to $67.22 and WTI to $64.84 amid concerns over rising OPEC+ supply and last week’s steep 12% drop.
