Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Asian stock markets surged on Monday amid broad-based buying, driven by rising expectations of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut and easing tensions between Washington and Beijing. The rally followed Wall Street’s record highs last week, further boosting investor sentiment across the region. U.S. stock futures also advanced in early Asian trading hours.
Markets are widely anticipating a 25-basis-point rate reduction from the Fed at the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday. The move comes after softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data for September, which strengthened the case for monetary easing. Investors are now closely watching for signals on the pace and scale of future rate cuts, which could shape global liquidity trends.
Optimism also grew after U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached a preliminary trade framework during talks in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend. The agreement paves the way for a potential decision by Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at a summit in South Korea later this week. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that both nations agreed to delay new tariffs and suspend China’s planned rare earth export restrictions, signaling a step toward stabilizing trade relations.
In China, the Shanghai Composite gained 0.8%, while the blue-chip CSI 300 rose 0.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index climbed 1%, led by a 1.2% jump in the Hang Seng TECH Index.
Japan’s Nikkei soared over 2%, surpassing the 50,000 mark for the first time, while the TOPIX reached a record high. Investors expect new Prime Minister Senae Takaichi’s administration to roll out additional fiscal stimulus to bolster Japan’s recovery.
South Korea’s KOSPI hit an all-time high, advancing 2.3%, fueled by strong gains in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index each added 0.4%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures edged higher ahead of market open.
