Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Global equity markets surged to new records on Thursday, driven by expectations of imminent U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts, even as inflation data came in hotter than forecast. MSCI’s world stocks index climbed 0.72% to 971.72, its second straight record high, while Wall Street’s Dow Jones rose 1.36% to 46,108.00, the S&P 500 gained 0.85% to 6,587.47, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.72% to 22,043.08.
The latest U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August, the largest jump in seven months, fueled by higher housing and food costs. However, weekly jobless claims surged by 27,000 to 263,000, their highest since October 2021, signaling labor market weakness. This shift reinforced market conviction that the Fed will begin a rate-cutting cycle at its meeting next week. Traders fully priced in a quarter-point cut, with odds of additional cuts in October and December climbing to 86% and 79% respectively, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
U.S. Treasury yields fell, with the 10-year note briefly dipping below 4%, while the dollar weakened against the euro, yen, sterling, and other major currencies. The euro rose 0.38% to $1.1738, and sterling gained 0.37% to $1.3579.
In Europe, the STOXX 600 closed up 0.6% after the ECB left rates unchanged at 2% and trimmed inflation forecasts.
Commodity markets turned lower, with U.S. crude sliding 2.04% to $62.37 a barrel and Brent falling 1.66% to $66.37 on demand concerns. Spot gold edged down 0.13% to $3,635.83 an ounce after recent record highs.
Markets remain locked in a tug of war between inflation pressures and weakening labor conditions, but investor sentiment is firmly tilted toward monetary easing, keeping equities buoyant despite global uncertainties.
