Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
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 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
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 Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Asian markets pulled back on Thursday following a strong tech-led rally earlier in the week, with investors shifting focus to key earnings from Chinese internet giant Alibaba and upcoming remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Sentiment was also weighed by tempered optimism over a U.S.-China trade deal, as tariffs between the two nations remain high and progress toward further de-escalation remains uncertain.
In Asian trading, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1%, reflecting the tepid cues from a mixed Wall Street session where momentum outside tech waned. Tech-heavy Asian indexes, which previously surged on AI-driven optimism and improving trade relations, saw a modest correction. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng traded flat.
Alibaba shares (HK:9988) edged up 0.5% ahead of its March-quarter earnings, with expectations boosted by rising Chinese consumer spending and growth in its cloud business. Peer Tencent (HK:0700) also gained 0.5% after posting a 13% revenue increase, driven by robust demand in its gaming and advertising segments, aided by AI integration.
However, sentiment on AI stocks cooled slightly after Nvidia-backed Coreweave warned of margin pressures due to rising AI-related costs, sending its shares down 15% in after-hours trading.
Mainland China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indices fell 0.2% to 0.5%, though they remain up nearly 2% for the week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1% as investors turned cautious ahead of GDP data expected to show a Q1 contraction, despite strong capital expenditure and wage growth trends.
Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.1% after a strong jobs report, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed 0.4%. India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures fell 0.2%, pointing to a subdued open despite earlier gains fueled by easing geopolitical tensions.
