European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian stock markets climbed on Monday, fueled by optimism surrounding corporate earnings and growing expectations for U.S. interest rate cuts. Investors are closely watching the U.S. inflation data, anticipated to show core inflation steady at 3.1% in September—unlikely to alter the Federal Reserve’s dovish outlook.
JPMorgan’s chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli noted that Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s focus on labor market weakness signals another rate cut at the upcoming FOMC meeting. Markets are fully pricing in a 25-basis-point rate reduction this month, followed by another in December, potentially bringing rates down to 3.0% by mid-2026.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.5% after news that the Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party would form a coalition government, paving the way for Sanae Takaichi to become Japan’s first female prime minister. Analysts expect her pro-stimulus stance to boost equities while weighing on the yen and bond yields. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.6%, and MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan edged up 0.1%.
U.S. stock futures were steady, with S&P 500 futures flat and Nasdaq futures up 0.1%, as investors anticipate strong third-quarter results from major corporations including Tesla, Netflix, Ford, GM, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola. LSEG IBES data forecasts an 8.8% year-over-year increase in S&P 500 earnings, underscoring high expectations for the reporting season.
Falling bond yields supported equity sentiment, with 10-year U.S. Treasury yields slipping to 4.011%. Meanwhile, the euro strengthened to $1.1656, and the yen weakened to 150.92 per dollar.
Gold prices held firm near $4,245 per ounce after a 6% weekly surge, while oil prices remained subdued—Brent crude steady at $61.28 and U.S. crude at $57.57—as OPEC+ maintained high output levels.
