China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Infrastructure 
China Buys 1 Million Tons of U.S. Soybeans Ahead of Xi Visit 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota 
ECB Rate Hike in Focus as Oil Tops $100 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
Hormuz Shipping Slows as Iran Threats Lift Oil Risks 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Oil Tops $100 Ahead of Inflation Data 
Brent Oil Tops $100 as Middle East Conflict Threatens Supply 
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Assets as U.S. Tensions Escalate 
Norway Core Inflation Rises to 3% in August 
Gold Prices Steady Ahead of U.S. Inflation Data and Fed Decision 
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Asian Markets Lifted by Chinese Stimulus Expectations
Most Asian stocks gained on Thursday, with Chinese markets leading the charge ahead of a government briefing on stimulus measures for the property sector. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes rose by 1.2%, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong surged by 2.4%, driven by strong performance in property stocks.
The briefing, scheduled for later today, will outline new support for China's property market. Since late September, recent government announcements have fueled optimism for an economic recovery, leading to significant gains in Chinese stocks. Investors also await China's third-quarter GDP data, due Friday, which is expected to provide further insights into the country’s economic trajectory.
TSMC Earnings to Highlight AI Demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to release its third-quarter earnings later today, a key focus for investors. TSMC, a leader in global chipmaking, is expected to report a net profit of T$300.1 billion ($9.33 billion), driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence technologies. Despite a 1% dip in Taipei shares, expectations remain high for AI-driven growth.
However, recent forecasts from ASML, another major player in the tech industry, indicated weaker sales for 2025, raising concerns about the sector’s future outlook.
Mixed Performance Across Broader Asian Markets
Australia's ASX 200 reached a record high, gaining 1% on optimism over China’s stimulus and strong domestic labor data. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% after reporting a larger-than-expected trade deficit for September, impacted by slowing exports to China.
South Korea's KOSPI remained flat, with chipmaking stocks subdued ahead of TSMC’s earnings, while India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a slightly weaker opening as major firms prepare to release earnings.
