Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
European stock markets edged higher on Friday as investors looked ahead to the delayed release of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation metric, a key indicator ahead of next week’s policy meeting. By early European trading, Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 each gained 0.2%, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 added 0.1%, reflecting cautious optimism across the region.
Global sentiment remains supported by firm expectations of a U.S. rate cut, even after jobless claims unexpectedly fell to a three-year low—a move economists attribute partly to the Thanksgiving holiday’s impact on reporting. Despite the mixed signals from the labor market, including a surprise drop in November payrolls from ADP, markets are focused on the pending release of the PCE deflator, an essential gauge for the Fed as it weighs inflation pressures against employment conditions. According to the CME’s FedWatch tool, traders now assign an 88% probability of a quarter-point cut at the upcoming meeting.
In Europe, German industrial orders delivered an upside surprise, rising 1.5% in October compared to expectations of a modest 0.4% increase. Still, a report from the German Economic Institute suggests the country’s broader economic recovery will remain muted through next year, with GDP projected to grow 0.1% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2025. The eurozone’s final third-quarter GDP reading, expected to confirm 1.4% annual growth, is due later Friday. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is widely anticipated to maintain current interest rates at its final meeting of the year.
Corporate news also boosted sentiment, with Swiss Re announcing a $500 million share buyback and forecasting net profit of $4.5 billion for 2026. In commodities, oil prices held onto Thursday’s gains, supported by expectations of U.S. rate cuts and ongoing geopolitical tensions that continue to elevate the risk premium on Russian crude.
