Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip After CPI-Fueled Rally as Markets Weigh Economic Uncertainty 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Precious Metals Rally as Silver and Platinum Outperform on Rate Cut Bets 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Most Asian stock markets edged higher on Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as a drop in U.S. Treasury yields offered some relief. However, concerns over America’s fiscal health persisted after Moody’s downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit outlook, keeping yields elevated and investor sentiment cautious.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX rose 0.8%, brushing off stronger-than-expected inflation data. Core CPI climbed to a two-year high in April, driven by wage growth and consumer spending, fueling expectations of a potential Bank of Japan rate hike. Despite the rate hike risk, gains in chip and tech stocks lifted Japanese equities.
Chinese markets outperformed regional peers, supported by optimism over U.S. tariff deescalation and hopes of more stimulus from Beijing. The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 rose modestly, securing weekly gains of 0.5% and 0.9%, respectively. The Hang Seng Index also advanced 0.5% on Friday and was up 1.1% for the week, overcoming lukewarm earnings from Chinese internet giants.
Elsewhere, South Korea’s KOSPI inched up 0.1% but remained down 1.6% for the week due to tech sector weakness. Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.3%, ending the week slightly higher amid dovish cues from the Reserve Bank of Australia. Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 0.2% and was down 0.7% for the week.
India’s Nifty 50 was flat Friday and on track for a 1.6% weekly loss following profit-taking after recent highs. While S&P 500 futures edged up in Asian trading, U.S. markets were still on pace to close the week down between 1.5% and 2%, as debt concerns and legislative uncertainty around tax cuts lingered.
Despite regional gains, most Asian indices were headed for weekly losses, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.
