RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
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 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asian shares eased on Thursday as investors locked in profits and positioned for month- and quarter-end portfolio rebalancing. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.2% after surging 5.5% this month and 9% this quarter. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.1%, extending a robust 13% quarterly gain. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged down 0.2%, while Chinese blue chips were little changed. Analysts noted that rebalancing flows could trigger selling in U.S. and Japanese indices, with Germany and Australia likely to benefit.
Wall Street closed lower for a second straight session as traders took profits after record highs. S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures inched up 0.1% ahead of remarks from Federal Reserve officials. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly signaled further interest rate cuts would be needed, though the timing remains uncertain. Fed Chair Jerome Powell struck a cautious tone after last week’s first policy easing of the year. Futures markets still price in a 92% chance of an October cut, but expectations for total 2025 easing have trimmed to 100 bps from 125 bps.
Bond markets were volatile as investors digested heavy U.S. government and corporate supply. The 10-year Treasury yield held at 4.14%, steady after a three-basis-point rise. The Treasury is set to auction $44 billion in seven-year notes following earlier two- and five-year sales.
In currencies, the yen weakened to a one-year low of 174.78 against the euro and a record trough of 187.30 against the Swiss franc. The dollar eased slightly to 148.77 yen after sharp overnight gains. The Swiss National Bank is expected to pause its tightening cycle later today.
Commodities were mixed. U.S. crude slipped 0.4% to $64.73 a barrel and Brent dipped 0.3% to $69.11, though prices remain near seven-week highs. Analysts highlight ongoing supply concerns from Iraq, Venezuela, and Russia. Gold held steady at $3,739 an ounce, consolidating after a dollar-driven decline.
Investors now await key U.S. economic releases, including the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the PCE report, and the final Q2 GDP reading.
