China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Asian shares climbed for a seventh consecutive month on Friday, driven by strong earnings from Amazon and Apple that lifted Wall Street sentiment and supported U.S. futures. Nasdaq futures surged 1.2%, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.6%, after Amazon reported stellar quarterly results that boosted its shares by 13%, adding over $300 billion in market value. Apple gained 2.3% as upbeat iPhone sales guidance exceeded expectations, offsetting concerns over rising AI-related expenses at Meta and Microsoft.
Six of the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. tech giants have now reported mixed results, with Nvidia—the world’s first $5 trillion company—set to release earnings in three weeks. According to Capital.com analyst Kyle Rodda, improved earnings from Apple and Amazon have brightened market sentiment heading into Asian trade, even as uncertainty lingers over interest rate outlooks and economic data.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.2%, marking a 1.8% weekly and 4.7% monthly rise. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.1%, capping weekly and monthly gains of 5.2% and 15.5%, respectively. However, Chinese markets lagged as weak October factory data weighed on confidence. The official PMI slipped to 49, below expectations, signaling contraction. Chinese blue chips fell 0.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.3%.
A recent U.S.-China summit between Presidents Trump and Xi resulted in reduced tariffs, resumed U.S. soybean purchases, and continued Chinese rare earth exports, though investors viewed it as a tactical truce rather than a breakthrough.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar hovered near three-month highs at 99.459, supported by steady Treasury yields. The euro edged up to $1.1572 after the European Central Bank held rates at 2%.
Meanwhile, Brent crude slipped 0.5% to $64.67 per barrel, and gold held at $4,033.48 per ounce, despite weekly losses, as investors weighed stronger dollar pressures against safe-haven demand.
