China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Trump Administration Plans Major Rollback of Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Japan’s Finance Minister Signals Alignment With BOJ as Rate Hike Speculation Grows 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Dollar Slips as Weak U.S. Manufacturing Data Increases Pressure for Fed Rate Cuts 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Tech Stocks Lift S&P 500 as Fed Rate-Cut Expectations Rise 
Oil Prices Slip as Russia-Ukraine Peace Hopes Fade and Oversupply Fears Grow 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Investors Await Fed Rate Decision and Monitor Market Shifts 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Oil Prices Rise as Geopolitical Tensions and Supply Risks Intensify 
Japan’s Service Sector Sustains Growth Momentum in November 
Gold prices continued to climb in Asian trade on Tuesday, building on strong overnight momentum as traders increasingly priced in the likelihood of a U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut in December. The precious metal rose despite a steady U.S. dollar, supported by heightened safe-haven demand ahead of key U.S. economic data releases.
Spot gold inched up 0.3% to $4,145.57 per ounce, while February gold futures added 0.2% to reach $4,180.00. The shift in sentiment followed dovish comments from two Federal Reserve officials, which prompted markets to sharply revise expectations for a December policy move. According to the CME FedWatch tool, traders now see a 77.2% probability of a 25-basis-point rate cut during the December 9–10 meeting, up from just 41.8% a week earlier.
A potential rate cut typically benefits gold and other non-yielding assets by reducing the appeal of interest-bearing investments. Gold has already hit multiple record highs this year, supported by the Fed’s recent decisions to ease policy during its last two meetings. Investors also continue to favor gold amid rising geopolitical risks, including escalating tensions between China and Japan and persistent concerns about ballooning fiscal deficits across developed economies.
Other precious metals tracked gold’s upward movement, with platinum rising 0.5% to $1,570.65 per ounce and silver gaining 0.8% to $51.5555. Base metals also advanced, with benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange jumping 1.2% to $10,887 per tonne.
Market participants are now awaiting a series of U.S. economic indicators expected this week, including producer price inflation and retail sales due Tuesday, followed by the Fed’s preferred inflation metric—the PCE price index—scheduled for Wednesday. These will be the most recent datasets available ahead of the December meeting, as officials confirmed that October’s inflation and labor statistics will not be released due to a prolonged government shutdown. This earlier uncertainty had fueled expectations of a potential rate hold, but renewed clarity on September data has shifted momentum toward a cut.
