Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
Japan’s Q3 Economic Contraction Deepens as Revised Data Signals Stronger Headwinds 
Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
Wall Street Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Decision; Nvidia Gains on China Chip Sales Approval 
Holiday Economic Questions: What Bank of America Says You Should Expect 
U.S. Open to Special Trade Terms for South Africa Under Possible AGOA Extension 
Stocks Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Decision and JPMorgan Warning Weighs on Markets 
Australian Dollar Rises as RBA Holds Rates and Signals Persistent Inflation Risks 
ECB Signals Steady Rates Ahead as Policymakers Warn of Inflation Risks 
Global Currencies Steady Ahead of Key Central Bank Decisions 
Oil Prices Dip as Markets Watch Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
U.S. Defense Bill Sets Record $901 Billion Budget, Includes Ukraine Aid 
Canada Stocks Steady as Markets Await Fed and BoC Decisions 
Russia Stocks Close Flat as MOEX Hits 1-Month High 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
Asian stock markets retreated on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of a closely watched U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate decision. Markets across the region tracked mild overnight losses on Wall Street, where major U.S. indexes dipped on uncertainty over the Fed’s forward guidance. While the central bank is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points, analysts warned that policymakers may still signal a more hawkish stance, dampening risk appetite. S&P 500 futures also edged lower in early Asian trading.
Chinese equities led regional declines as persistent deflationary pressures continued to weigh on sentiment. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 slipped 0.9%, the Shanghai Composite dropped 0.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.4%. Fresh government data showed that although China’s consumer price index rose year-on-year in November, it unexpectedly contracted from the previous month. Producer prices fell for a 38th straight month, underscoring weak domestic demand and raising fresh concerns about China’s growth outlook heading into 2026.
Beijing’s Politburo pledged additional fiscal stimulus in the coming months, but the announcement offered little immediate support. Chinese chipmakers also faced renewed pressure after U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would allow NVIDIA to sell more advanced AI chips in China, intensifying uncertainty across the sector.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3%, while the TOPIX eased 0.2% as stubborn producer price inflation fueled speculation that the Bank of Japan may soon raise interest rates. Analysts expect rate discussions to intensify ahead of the BOJ’s late-December meeting. Ongoing geopolitical tensions between Japan and China over Taiwan further dampened market sentiment.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s ASX 200 extended losses following a hawkish signal from the Reserve Bank. Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged down 0.2%, South Korea’s KOSPI traded flat, and India’s Nifty 50 futures slipped after airline giant IndiGo suffered nearly 8% in declines amid an operational crisis.
