Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip After CPI-Fueled Rally as Markets Weigh Economic Uncertainty 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Asian share markets rebounded on Friday, tracking a recovery on Wall Street as a turnaround in technology stocks boosted global risk sentiment. Investors, however, remained cautious ahead of a widely anticipated interest rate hike from the Bank of Japan (BOJ), a move that could trigger volatility in currencies and bond markets.
Market sentiment was also supported by a surprise slowdown in U.S. consumer price inflation, which eased to 2.7%. While the softer inflation print briefly lifted confidence, analysts warned the data may be distorted by the recent U.S. government shutdown and should not be taken at face value. As a result, expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts shifted only slightly, with markets pricing in a 27% chance of a cut in January and a 58% probability by March.
Attention in Asia remained firmly on Japan, where markets are pricing in around a 90% chance that the BOJ will raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%. Investors currently expect only one additional rate hike to 1.0% in 2026, but any signal of faster policy normalization could strengthen the yen while adding pressure to Japanese government bonds. Japan’s latest data showed core consumer inflation holding steady at 3.0% in November, well above the BOJ’s 2% target.
Japan’s Nikkei index rose 0.6%, while South Korean shares climbed 1.2%, supported by strong earnings from chipmaker Micron Technology. The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.2%. U.S. stock futures were flat after overnight gains, and Treasury yields steadied near recent highs.
In global markets, central banks sent mixed signals. The Bank of England cut rates by a narrow margin, while the European Central Bank maintained a more hawkish stance, dampening expectations for further easing. Currency markets were largely stable, with the dollar steady against the yen.
Commodities were mixed, as gold prices hovered below recent highs, oil edged higher on geopolitical risks, and industrial metals showed continued demand.
