Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
The U.S. dollar reversed earlier losses on Friday after President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade talks with Canada and threatened military action against Iran. These unexpected moves rattled markets, boosting the greenback as investors sought safety amid rising geopolitical tension.
ForexLive’s chief currency analyst, Adam Button, noted that Trump’s unpredictability continues to undermine market assumptions. While the dollar initially gained on safe-haven demand, Button warned the rally may fade as the trade war has weighed on the currency throughout the year.
The Canadian dollar dropped 0.5% to C$1.37 after Trump cited Canada’s digital services tax as the reason for halting negotiations. Meanwhile, Trump criticized Iran’s leadership and said he might resume bombing if uranium enrichment continues.
Earlier, the dollar fell to a three-and-a-half-year low against the euro, driven by expectations of more aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts due to weak economic data. Reports showed a dip in U.S. consumer spending in May and a sharp rise in unemployment claims, with GDP revisions highlighting weaker consumption.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s recent congressional testimony was seen as dovish. Additionally, speculation that Trump may replace Powell with a more dovish candidate has intensified market expectations of rate cuts. Traders now price in 65 basis points of cuts by year-end, up from 46 points a week ago.
The dollar index remained flat at 97.36 but is set for a 1.4% weekly loss, its worst since mid-May. The euro hit $1.1754, its highest since 2021, and sterling rose 1.85% for the week. Against the yen, the dollar gained slightly to 144.65 but still posted a 0.94% weekly drop.
Bitcoin dipped 0.86% to $106,879.
