Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Markets Steady Amid Earnings Season and Rate Cuts
Most Asian stocks traded within a narrow range on Monday, reflecting investor caution ahead of the upcoming earnings season. Chinese markets saw modest gains following a rate cut from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), which exceeded expectations.
U.S. Market Influences Asian Stocks
Regional markets gained some traction from Wall Street’s positive performance, where U.S. stock indexes closed near record highs on Friday. In Asian trading, Wall Street futures were also mildly positive, indicating continued optimism.
Chinese Stocks Rise Post Rate Cut
Chinese indexes, including the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and the Shanghai Composite, rose approximately 0.7% amid volatile trading after the PBOC lowered its benchmark loan prime rates. This cut is part of a broader stimulus strategy from Beijing aimed at boosting economic growth. However, despite initial enthusiasm, Chinese stocks have seen recent pullbacks due to investor disappointment over the lack of detailed plans regarding the timing and scale of stimulus measures.
Regional Reactions and Outlook
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dipped by 0.2%, suggesting cautious sentiment among foreign investors regarding China’s rate cut. Despite mixed economic signals from the region, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6%, benefiting from its strong trade ties with China.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose 0.3%, while the TOPIX index remained flat. South Korea’s KOSPI showed little change, and futures for India’s Nifty 50 index hinted at a positive opening as it attempts to breach the 25,000-point threshold.
