Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
The U.S. dollar held firm early Thursday after a sharp plunge to a 3-1/2-year low and swift rebound, as traders digested the Federal Reserve’s cautious outlook on interest rates. The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday as expected, signaling more gradual easing ahead.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell described the move as a “risk-management” step tied to labor market weakness, while stressing there is no need to rush rate cuts. The central bank’s dot plot pointed to another 50 basis points of cuts this year, but only one reduction in 2026, highlighting ongoing uncertainty about inflation risks.
The dollar index tumbled to 96.224, its weakest since February 2022, before bouncing back to 97.074, up 0.44% on the day. The euro was steady at $1.1818 after spiking to a 27-month high of $1.19185. Sterling traded flat at $1.3626, easing from Wednesday’s peak of $1.3726.
Markets now await the Bank of England’s decision later Thursday, with policymakers expected to hold rates at 4%. U.K. inflation rose 3.8% annually in August, matching forecasts and reducing the likelihood of near-term cuts.
Against the yen, the dollar slipped 0.08% to 146.815 after briefly falling to 145.495, its weakest since July. The Bank of Japan is expected to hold rates Friday, though markets assign 50% odds of a hike by year-end. Political focus remains on Japan’s October 4 leadership vote after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation.
Elsewhere, New Zealand’s dollar slid 0.49% to $0.5935 after GDP contracted more than expected, while the Australian dollar was steady at $0.6655 ahead of jobs data. The Canadian dollar held at C$1.3772 after the Bank of Canada cut rates to a three-year low, citing weak employment and easing inflation pressures.
