Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Asian currencies traded mostly flat on Friday but remained on track for weekly losses, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and lingering concerns over interest rates and trade tensions. The U.S. Dollar Index slipped 0.2% during Asian hours yet stayed poised for a second consecutive weekly gain, buoyed by hawkish sentiment surrounding the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.
Investor caution grew after this week’s U.S. consumer price index (CPI) came in slightly above expectations, suggesting that President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs may already be influencing inflation. Several Fed officials emphasized sticky inflation and indicated that tariffs could be feeding into consumer prices, reinforcing a cautious outlook on rate cuts.
Political tension added to market jitters as Trump declined to confirm Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s job security, raising concerns about the central bank’s independence. With the August 1 tariff deadline approaching, investors remained risk-averse.
Across Asia, the Korean won traded flat but was set to gain nearly 1% this week. The Singapore dollar edged down 0.1%, while both the onshore and offshore yuan slipped 0.1%. The Indian rupee also traded steady but was heading for weekly losses. In contrast, the Australian dollar rose 0.4% on Friday, driven by weak domestic jobs data that boosted rate cut expectations from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The Japanese yen remained subdued, with the USD/JPY pair on track for a 0.7% weekly drop. Focus shifted to Sunday’s upper house elections amid speculation that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition may lose its majority. Meanwhile, Japan’s core CPI eased in June but stayed above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, fueling speculation of further rate hikes.
Markets remain sensitive to economic data and policy signals amid ongoing global uncertainty.
