Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Last week, the US Dollar performed strongly in the currency markets, with the Dollar Index and 10-year Treasury yields rising above key resistance levels. As the US election approaches, there are expectations that a potential Trump victory could boost the Dollar and inflation concerns.
In September, US durable goods orders decreased by 0.8%, better than the expected drop of 0.9%, mainly due to a decline in transportation equipment. However, orders excluding transportation rose by 0.4%, indicating positive trends.
In Japan, recent snap elections led the Yen to fall to a three-month low against the US Dollar due to political instability. Speculation surrounds potential delays in interest rate hikes, influenced by a weakened ruling coalition.
Next week will be busy, with key earnings reports from major tech companies and important US jobs data, which could affect interest rates and stock market performance. The earnings dates for the "magnificent 7" companies are as follows:
- Alphabet (GOOGL): October 29
- Meta Platforms (META): October 30.
- Microsoft (MSFT): October 30.
- Amazon (AMZN): October 31.
- Apple (AAPL): October 31.
