IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Gold prices moved higher in Asian trading on Friday, supported by a weakening U.S. dollar and strong expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its upcoming December 9–10 meeting. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $4,227.88 an ounce, while U.S. gold futures for February slipped 0.3% to $4,256.95. The softer dollar—hovering near a five-week low—boosted demand for bullion by making it more affordable for international buyers. Markets are currently pricing in an 88% chance of a 25-basis-point rate cut, with traders also anticipating further monetary easing early next year.
Recent U.S. economic data has strengthened the outlook for rate cuts. Weekly jobless claims dropped by 27,000 to 191,000, marking the lowest level since September 2022. Adding to concerns about cooling labor conditions, ADP’s private-sector payroll report showed a decline of 32,000 jobs, the steepest drop in more than two and a half years. These indicators have increased expectations that the Fed may adopt a more dovish stance.
Investors are now focused on the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index—the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge. A softer-than-expected reading could reinforce the case for a rate cut this month and potentially open the door to additional easing in 2025. However, rising U.S. Treasury yields continue to limit gold’s upside, as higher yields raise the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold.
Other metals also benefited from the weaker dollar. Silver futures gained 2.2% to $58.77 per ounce, platinum added 0.8% to $1,673.60, and copper saw strong momentum, with LME benchmark copper rising 2.1% to $11,675.20 a ton. U.S. copper futures climbed more than 2% to $5.47 a pound, reflecting improving sentiment across industrial metals markets.
