Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
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 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Asian stocks bounced back at the start of the month, tracking Wall Street’s strong finish last week. Investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming trade tariff decision, with uncertainty over potential tariff rates hinting at softer measures.
Major U.S. stock indexes closed higher Friday after PCE inflation data met expectations. Meanwhile, Asian stocks, which suffered steep losses in the previous session, saw strong gains Monday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 1.4%, while the TOPIX rose 1.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.8%, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite gained 2.2%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.6%. South Korea’s markets were closed for a holiday.
China’s Shanghai Composite added 0.7%, with the CSI 300 rising 0.8%, supported by better-than-expected manufacturing PMI data. The Caixin manufacturing PMI hit a three-month high, signaling resilience in China’s economy amid past stimulus efforts.
Trump’s tariff decision remains a key market focus. While the U.S. previously imposed 10% additional tariffs on China, Trump is set to finalize tariff rates on Tuesday, leaving room for potential adjustments. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at a possible moderation in levies, easing investor concerns.
China’s highly anticipated “Two Sessions” meetings begin this week, with investors watching for economic policy signals. The National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are expected to outline strategies to stabilize China’s economy amid slowing growth, weak consumer confidence, and a struggling property sector. Analysts predict China will maintain its 5.0% GDP target while detailing fiscal and monetary policies to support economic recovery.
Markets remain on edge as investors assess trade developments and China’s next policy moves.
