Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
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 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian stocks traded mixed on Friday, weighed down by renewed concerns over U.S. trade tensions following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a steep 35% tariff on Canadian imports. This followed earlier tariffs on South Korea and Japan, raising fears of a broader trade conflict.
Despite strong overnight gains on Wall Street, regional markets largely failed to follow suit, with S&P 500 futures slipping 0.4% in Asian trading. Investors turned cautious as the outlook for global trade darkened.
However, Chinese and Hong Kong stocks bucked the trend. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite gained 0.7% and 0.6%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 1.6%. Optimism was fueled by expectations of additional Chinese stimulus, especially after soft inflation data earlier in the week. Sectors like consumer goods and industrials led the gains.
Investor sentiment in Hong Kong also received a boost from Goldman Sachs, which upgraded its rating on the market to Market-Weight, anticipating easing monetary policy and milder U.S. tariffs. WuXi AppTec shares surged 10.5% after projecting strong first-half earnings, becoming the top performer on the Hang Seng.
Tech stocks in the region mirrored Wall Street’s positive momentum, particularly after Nvidia surpassed a $4 trillion valuation. Continued optimism around artificial intelligence supported gains across Asian tech sectors. South Korea’s KOSPI posted a weekly gain of over 4%, though it edged slightly lower on Friday.
Elsewhere, markets retreated. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX slipped up to 0.3%, Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 1.5%, and India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%, pointing to a weak open. Traders remain hopeful for a potential U.S.-India trade agreement following Trump’s recent comments.
