Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Signals Policy Overhaul as Hawkish Rate Outlook Rattles Markets 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Most Asian currencies traded in tight ranges on Friday, showing limited gains despite a weaker U.S. dollar, as market sentiment stayed cautious amid ongoing equity market sell-offs. The Chinese yuan slipped after data revealed the country’s exports contracted for the first time since March 2024, while its trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly, signaling continued economic headwinds.
The USD/CNY pair rose about 0.1% after October’s trade figures highlighted slowing export growth due to persistent trade frictions with the U.S., which eased only after a late-October agreement. Imports also rose at a slower pace, underlining weak domestic demand in China, the world’s second-largest economy.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar retreated from recent three-month highs following weak employment data. Reports from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed U.S. job cuts surged to over 150,000 in October — the highest in 20 years — amplifying fears of a cooling labor market. Traders are now pricing in a 65.8% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, up from 59.8% a day earlier, according to CME FedWatch. The greenback’s weakness came as investors focused more on private labor data amid a delayed release of official figures due to a prolonged U.S. government shutdown.
In Japan, the yen weakened as disappointing wage and spending data dampened hopes for near-term interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan. The USD/JPY pair gained slightly on Friday but was still down 0.6% for the week.
Across the region, other Asian currencies traded mixed. The USD/SGD rose 0.1%, USD/TWD dipped 0.1%, while USD/KRW climbed 0.5% as foreign capital outflows hit South Korean equities. The AUD/USD slipped 0.1%, and the USD/INR held steady above 88 rupees.
