Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian stock markets opened the week on shaky ground as renewed U.S.-China trade tensions rattled investor confidence. Despite signs of stabilization in Wall Street futures, markets across Asia saw sharp fluctuations. A trading holiday in Japan and the United States added to the volatility, while uncertainty in global politics weighed on sentiment.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose 100% tariffs on China from November 1 spooked markets, though he later adopted a more conciliatory tone, saying the U.S. did not want to “hurt” China. Beijing defended its recent export restrictions on rare earth elements as a necessary response to U.S. actions but refrained from announcing new tariffs. Analysts at Goldman Sachs, including chief economist Jan Hatzius, expect a temporary extension of the current tariff pause with limited concessions on both sides, though risks of higher tariffs remain.
Political instability in Japan further unsettled markets as doubts grew over the ascension of LDP leader Sanae Takaichi to the prime ministership. The yen rebounded sharply, leading to a 5% drop in Nikkei futures on Friday, though futures later regained 1.3% to trade at 46,690. Meanwhile, South Korea’s benchmark slipped 2.1%, Australia fell 0.5%, and MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index dropped 0.6%.
In the U.S., S&P 500 futures climbed 1.1% and Nasdaq futures rose 1.6% as investors looked ahead to the start of earnings season, with major banks like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup set to report. Analysts expect an 8.8% year-on-year earnings increase for S&P 500 companies, essential for sustaining high market valuations.
European markets showed modest recovery, with Eurostoxx 50 futures up 0.2%, DAX up 0.4%, and FTSE steady. In currency trading, the dollar strengthened 0.5% to 151.98 yen, while the euro held at $1.1607. Gold hit a record high of $4,059 per ounce amid geopolitical uncertainty, and oil prices rose over 1% on hopes of a U.S.-China compromise.
