South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
The Nasdaq Composite closed at a record high Friday, boosted by Microsoft and Tesla as Wall Street awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week. Investors widely expect the Fed to cut interest rates by 25 basis points to counter a cooling labor market and easing inflation.
Microsoft gained 1.8% after avoiding a hefty EU antitrust fine by offering reduced prices for Office without Teams. Tesla surged 7.4% after board chair Robyn Denholm dismissed concerns that CEO Elon Musk’s political activity hurt sales, emphasizing Musk’s active role at the company. Despite the rebound, Tesla shares remain down 2% in 2025.
The Nasdaq rose 0.45% to 22,141.10, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.05% to 6,584.29. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.59% to 45,834.22. Declines in Goldman Sachs and Sherwin-Williams weighed on the Dow, while healthcare and materials led losses across seven of 11 S&P sectors.
The University of Michigan’s survey showed U.S. consumer sentiment dropped for a second month in September, reflecting concerns about inflation, jobs, and business conditions. Futures markets now anticipate total rate cuts of 75 basis points by year-end.
For the week, the S&P 500 rose 1.6%, the Dow gained nearly 1%, and the Nasdaq advanced 2%, supported by a resurgence in artificial intelligence stocks after Oracle’s upbeat forecast. Warner Bros Discovery jumped 17% following reports of a potential takeover bid from Paramount Skydance.
Vaccine makers struggled, with Moderna dropping 7.4% and Pfizer and Novavax losing over 3% after reports linked COVID-19 vaccines to child fatalities.
Overall, declining S&P 500 stocks outnumbered advancers 3.3 to 1. The index posted 22 new highs versus 3 new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 106 new highs and 43 new lows.
