Japanese Yen Nears Seven-Month High as Oil Approaches $100 
Oil Prices Hold Near Highs as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates 
Asian Stocks Fall as Oil Tops $100, Yields Rise 
Asian Currencies Steady as Yen Holds Firm, Oil Tops $100 
ECB Rate Hike in Focus as Oil Tops $100 
UK Food Inflation Forecast to Hit 6.4% by Mid-2027 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
Hormuz Shipping Slows as Iran Threats Lift Oil Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Oil Tops $100 Ahead of Inflation Data 
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Assets as U.S. Tensions Escalate 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
Oil Prices Rally as Brent Nears $100 on U.S.-Iran Escalation 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
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Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points
Ongoing Inflation Progress and Labor Market Slowdown Drive Fed’s Decision
The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 4.50%-4.75% on Thursday. This adjustment, following September’s larger 50-basis-point cut, reflects ongoing improvements in inflation control and indications of a softening labor market.
According to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, “The labor market is not a significant source of inflationary pressures,” citing indicators suggesting the labor market is less tight than it was before the pandemic. The latest measure of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index, remained steady at 2.7% in September, slightly above economist expectations of 2.6%.
Impact of Political Shift: Potential Policy Adjustments Under New Leadership
This rate cut arrives amid political changes, with President-elect Donald Trump’s victory signaling potential economic policy shifts. Powell noted that while immediate policy changes aren’t anticipated, potential measures from the new administration—like tariffs, tax adjustments, and immigration policy revisions—could impact inflation and the Fed’s rate-cut timeline.
Market expectations suggest the Fed will conclude its rate-cutting cycle after two more 25-basis-point reductions in 2025, bringing rates to the 3.75%-4% range.
