U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian stocks showed a mixed performance on Wednesday as uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies unsettled global markets. Equities in Australia and Malaysia led losses, while South Korean shares rebounded following a modest recovery in U.S. tech giants.
Wall Street’s major indexes extended their steepest sell-off in months on Tuesday after Trump unexpectedly raised tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports to 50%, only to revert to the original 25% hours later. The abrupt shift rattled investor confidence, fueling market volatility.
Asian markets, highly sensitive to global trade tensions, reacted negatively. As of 02:37 GMT, China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2%, while the CSI 300 lost 0.3%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index remained largely flat. Malaysia’s KLCI fell 1.5%, and the Philippines’ PSEi dropped 1.2%.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 1.6% intraday, briefly entering correction territory, before trading 1.3% lower at 7,786.30. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that despite Trump’s decision to apply the 25% tariffs globally, Australia would not impose reciprocal measures.
South Korea’s KOSPI rose 1.6%, driven by strong gains in Samsung Electronics (+2.1%) and SK Hynix (+4.5%). The sector followed a rebound in U.S. tech stocks, including NVIDIA, Broadcom, and Tesla, after heavy losses earlier this week.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.3% after hitting a six-month low in the previous session, while the TOPIX gained 0.9%. India’s Nifty 50 futures edged up 0.2%.
Investors remain cautious as shifting U.S. trade policies add to global market uncertainties, affecting sentiment across Asian markets.
