Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
U.S. Stocks Rise as Cooler Inflation Boosts Hopes for Fed Rate Cut 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Vietnam’s November Trade Sees Monthly Decline but Strong Year-on-Year Growth 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Fed Meeting Sparks Division as Markets Brace for Possible Rate Cut 
The U.S. dollar edged lower on Wednesday as traders awaited key employment data and updates on trade negotiations led by President Donald Trump. The Trump administration set a Wednesday deadline for countries to submit trade offers, coinciding with the start of a 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum.
Markets are also watching for a possible phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid tensions over allegations that both nations breached last month’s tariff rollback agreement.
Despite ongoing trade tensions, macroeconomic indicators have begun influencing dollar movements again. After a manufacturing contraction pushed the dollar down 0.8% on Monday, a surprise surge in U.S. job openings helped it recover nearly the same amount on Tuesday. The JOLTS report, which is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, showed significantly higher-than-expected figures, boosting sentiment.
By early Wednesday, the dollar dipped 0.09% to 143.82 yen, while the euro gained 0.13% to $1.1385. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, remained flat at 99.159. Traders are now eyeing the ADP employment report due later in the day, ahead of Friday’s critical non-farm payrolls data.
Joseph Capurso, analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, noted that “job openings were much stronger than expected,” adding that with low expectations for the ADP data, even a small upside surprise could lift the dollar and bond yields.
Elsewhere, the Australian dollar held steady at $0.6460 ahead of GDP data, while South Korea’s won rose 0.2% to 1,375.25 per dollar following the presidential election win of liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung.
