Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
U.S. stocks ended mixed Friday, with the S&P 500 securing a two-week winning streak despite slipping 0.1% after reaching a record intraday high of 6,594.67. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 273 points, or 0.6%, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.5%. Rising Treasury yields and weak consumer sentiment weighed on markets.
The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 55.4 in September from 58.2, missing forecasts. While one-year inflation expectations held steady at 4.8%, five-year expectations rose to 3.9% from 3.5%, signaling persistent inflation concerns. Meanwhile, 10-year Treasury yields climbed 6 basis points to 4.07%, even as markets priced in a near-certain Federal Reserve rate cut next week. Futures traders anticipate a 25 basis point reduction, though a larger move remains possible.
Recent data added to expectations of monetary easing. Consumer prices posted the sharpest monthly gain since January, while jobless claims spiked to 263,000, the highest since 2021. Analysts suggest the Fed’s priority has shifted from inflation to stabilizing the weakening labor market.
Global fund flows reflected investor caution, with equity funds posting $3.06 billion in outflows—the first in five weeks. U.S. equity funds lost $10.44 billion, though European and Asian funds attracted $3.77 billion and $1.87 billion in inflows, respectively.
On the corporate front, Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) raised its annual outlook, citing robust demand for AI-driven creative software. Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) began volume shipments of Nvidia Blackwell Ultra solutions, while RH (NYSE: RH) missed revenue estimates. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and OpenAI reached a non-binding agreement on the AI firm’s for-profit transition. New IPOs include Gemini Space Station, Black Rock Coffee Bar, Via Transportation, and Legence.
