Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
U.S. Stocks End Week Higher as Tech Rally Offsets Consumer Weakness 
Trump Defends Economic Record in North Carolina as Midterm Election Pressure Mounts 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
Retail sales in Japan declined for the seventh straight month during the period of September, amid continued weakness in domestic consumption.
Retail sales in Japan were flat on a seasonally adjusted monthly basis in September, data released by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed Monday. That missed expectations for an increase of 0.2 percent following the 1.2 percent decline in August.
On a yearly basis, retail sales skidded 1.9 percent - also shy of forecasts for -1.8 percent following the 2.1 percent contraction in the previous month. Sales from large retailers tumbled am annual 3.2 percent versus forecasts for a decline of 2.7 percent after dropping 3.6 percent in the previous month.
Meanwhile, sales of luxury items were also hit by higher import duties introduced by China in April, which has reduced the attraction for Chinese tourists making purchases in Japan to take home to China.
