Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
South Korea Posts Stronger-Than-Expected 1.3% Economic Growth in Q3 
U.S. Soybean Shipments to China Gain Momentum as Trade Tensions Ease 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian stock markets tumbled on Friday, marking steep weekly losses as a global tech sell-off intensified amid valuation concerns and renewed U.S.-China tensions. Technology shares in Japan and South Korea led the decline, while investors awaited China’s October trade data for further direction.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slumped 2.3%, heading for a 5% weekly drop as major tech stocks dragged the index lower. SoftBank Group fell 9%, while chipmaker Advantest Corp lost over 7%. In South Korea, the KOSPI index plunged nearly 3%, extending its weekly loss to more than 4%, weighed down by declines in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Analysts warned that inflated valuations in semiconductor and AI sectors may be unsustainable, fueling fears of a market correction.
The sell-off mirrored heavy losses on Wall Street overnight, where tech shares extended declines amid caution from top U.S. banking executives who warned of an equities bubble. Futures tied to U.S. indexes remained mostly flat during Asian trading hours.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.6% and was set to drop over 1% for the week. India’s Nifty 50 opened 1% lower, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded mostly steady.
Adding to market jitters, China’s October trade figures disappointed investors, showing a surprise drop in exports and weaker imports, signaling sluggish global demand and domestic weakness. Meanwhile, escalating U.S.-China tech tensions added pressure. Reports suggested Washington plans to block Nvidia from selling scaled-down AI chips to China, while Beijing reportedly intends to restrict foreign-made AI chips in state-funded data centers—moves that could further strain global chip supply chains.
China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 indices dipped 0.2%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.2%, dragged down by a 2% slide in the Hang Seng TECH Index.
