Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
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 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian currencies edged lower on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened following better-than-expected consumer sentiment data. The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.3% during Asian trading, supported by a positive economic outlook, while Dollar Index Futures mirrored the gain.
The Japanese yen weakened further, with USD/JPY up 0.2% after a near 1% rise on Tuesday. Market attention turned to Japan’s 40-year bond auction, as yields on 20-, 30-, and 40-year government bonds recently surged to record highs. A Reuters report indicated that Japan’s Ministry of Finance may reduce super-long bond issuance due to waning demand from institutional investors like life insurers.
China’s yuan also slipped slightly, with both USD/CNY and USD/CNH pairs up 0.1%. The Australian dollar remained mostly flat after erasing early losses. April’s consumer price index came in higher than expected, challenging market assumptions of further interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut rates by 25 basis points, aligning with expectations amid weak domestic growth and global trade pressures. The NZD/USD pair responded positively, rising 0.4%.
In other currency moves, the South Korean won remained stable against the dollar, while the Singapore dollar appreciated 0.1%. The Indian rupee weakened, with USD/INR advancing 0.3%.
Investors are closely monitoring macroeconomic data and central bank actions across the Asia-Pacific region as global monetary dynamics shift. The upcoming bond auction in Japan and inflation trends in Australia are key focus areas influencing regional currency performance and rate outlooks.
