U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Russian stocks closed higher on Saturday, driven by gains in the Oil & Gas, Power, and Telecom sectors. The MOEX Russia Index rose 2.10% to end the session on a strong note.
Top performers included NOVATEK PJSC (MCX:NVTK), which surged 5.25% to 1,314.60, IPJSC YANDEX (MCX:YDEX) up 1.83% to 4,371.50, and Gazprom PJSC (MCX:GAZP) gaining 1.68% to close at 152.76. Meanwhile, Unipro PJSC (MCX:UPRO) slipped 0.63% to 1.89, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) declined 0.51% to 16.08, and Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX:MOEX) fell 0.41% to 207.16.
Market breadth was positive, with 69 stocks advancing, 26 declining, and 3 remaining unchanged on the Moscow Exchange. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks market sentiment, dropped 2.21% to 53.44, indicating easing investor concerns.
In commodities, Gold Futures for June delivery fell 1.50% to $3,298.40 a troy ounce. However, oil prices edged higher, with June Crude oil futures rising 0.37% to $63.02 per barrel and June Brent oil gaining 0.48% to $66.87.
Currency markets also reflected broader optimism. The USD/RUB pair fell 0.69% to 82.62, and the EUR/RUB slid 0.91% to 93.89. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures ticked up 0.09% to 99.25.
Russia’s stock market continues to show resilience amid global commodity movements, with energy and tech stocks leading the charge.
