Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian currencies gained on Friday as market risk sentiment improved after the White House announced President Donald Trump would delay any decision on military action against Iran for two weeks. The move helped ease fears of an imminent U.S. escalation in the Iran-Israel conflict, leading to a retreat in the U.S. dollar.
The dollar index slipped 0.2% following the announcement, reversing some gains made earlier in the week after the Federal Reserve maintained a hawkish stance during its recent meeting. Despite the dip, the greenback remained up 0.4% for the week, supported by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments on holding rates steady amid inflation risks from proposed trade tariffs.
Improved risk appetite weighed on the Japanese yen, although the currency strengthened 0.2% against the dollar (USDJPY) after hotter-than-expected CPI data and hawkish Bank of Japan minutes signaled further rate hikes. Japan’s national core inflation surged to a 2.5-year high in May, reinforcing expectations of more tightening from the BOJ despite caution over U.S. trade tensions.
China’s yuan was little moved after the People’s Bank of China held its loan prime rate steady, with USDCNY easing 0.1%. The South Korean won gained as USDKRW dropped 0.7%, while the Indian rupee and Singapore dollar saw their USD pairs fall 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. The Australian dollar also rebounded, with AUDUSD rising 0.3% after recent losses.
Markets remained uncertain about the timing of Japan’s next rate hike, while U.S. monetary policy and geopolitical developments continued to influence global currency moves. As traders assessed inflation data, central bank signals, and geopolitical risks, the short-term outlook favored Asian currencies amid easing war concerns.
