Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Australia Eases Capital Gains Tax Reforms to Support Small Businesses and Startups 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Most Asian stocks retreated on Friday amid profit-taking in the technology sector, while South Korea’s benchmark surged to new highs following a week-long holiday. The regional downturn mirrored Wall Street’s overnight pullback, as the tech rally paused and the U.S. government shutdown delayed key economic data.
S&P 500 futures gained 0.2% in Asian trading, supported by persistent expectations of an October rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Optimism over a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas also buoyed sentiment.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dropped 1% and the broader TOPIX index slid 1.7%, both retreating from record levels. Tech giant SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) led losses with a 3.4% drop, following a stronger-than-expected producer price inflation reading for September. The data raised concerns that the Bank of Japan may hike rates sooner, despite likely political resistance from the incoming Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, known for her dovish fiscal stance. Japanese markets had rallied earlier in the week on her election as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s new leader.
Chinese stocks also slipped, with the CSI 300 down 0.5% and the Shanghai Composite off 0.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell nearly 1%, dragged by losses in tech and biotech shares. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (HK:0981) tumbled 5.2%, while WuXi AppTec (HK:2359) and WuXi Biologics (HK:2269) dropped up to 3% after U.S. lawmakers advanced a bill restricting investments in Chinese biotech firms.
Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.2%, while Australia’s ASX 200 remained flat. India’s Nifty 50 futures rose 0.2% ahead of key tech earnings.
South Korea’s KOSPI was the standout performer, rallying 1.5% to a record 3,617.86. The surge came as chipmakers SK Hynix (KS:000660) and Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) soared 6.6% and 5.1%, respectively, on optimism over new processor supply deals with OpenAI, signaling robust growth prospects for the semiconductor sector.
