ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Asian shares started cautiously on Monday amid persistent uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, with a heavy week of economic data and major tech earnings ahead. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of trade progress with China, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not back the assertions, deepening investor unease. Christian Keller of Barclays warned that prolonged uncertainty is hurting both the U.S. and global economies, increasing recession risks.
Early trading saw MSCI’s broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan edge up 0.1%, Japan’s Nikkei climb 0.9%, and South Korea’s Kospi gain 0.2%. European futures rose slightly, while U.S. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures slipped 0.4% and 0.5%, respectively. The S&P has recovered 12% from its April low but remains 10% below its peak. Although earnings have been solid with over 9% growth, the beat rate has dropped from 71% to 64%.
Investors are bracing for results from Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, along with key U.S. reports on employment, GDP, and inflation. Payrolls are expected to rise by 135,000, though GDP growth may be muted due to a surge in gold imports. Futures imply a 64% chance of a Fed rate cut in June.
The dollar index steadied at 99.695, while the euro held at $1.1350. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep rates unchanged, and German inflation data could pressure the ECB toward another rate cut. Gold eased to $3,307 an ounce after touching record highs, and Brent crude rose slightly to $66.98 a barrel amid global growth concerns.
