Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
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 Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Russian equities ended Saturday’s session largely unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index holding steady at 0.00%. Market activity reflected mixed performances across key sectors on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) led gainers, adding 0.63% to close at 1,926.60, followed by Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM), which climbed 0.63% to 7.22. Unipro PJSC (MCX:UPRO) also advanced 0.61% to 1.48. In contrast, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) fell 0.70% to 15.76, while PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) dropped 0.63% to 614.40 and VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) slipped 0.34% to 324.30.
Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners 101 to 42, with six issues remaining unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), tracking implied volatility for MOEX options, stayed flat at 34.30.
Commodity markets saw broader weakness. Gold futures for August delivery dropped 1.12% to $3,335.60 per troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery fell 1.32% to $65.16 a barrel, while Brent oil for September slid 1.07% to $68.44.
Currency movements were modest. The U.S. dollar gained 0.20% against the ruble to 79.41, while the euro rose 0.15% to 93.24. The U.S. Dollar Index futures climbed 0.29% to 97.40, signaling continued dollar strength amid global commodity pressures.
The flat close of Russia’s main stock benchmark highlights ongoing investor caution as commodity volatility and currency fluctuations weigh on market sentiment. Traders remain attentive to global economic signals, with energy and gold price trends likely to influence Russian market direction in the coming sessions.
