Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday as rising geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The S&P 500 lost 0.22% to 5,967.84, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.51% to 19,447.41. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.08%, closing at 42,206.82.
Markets were jittery heading into the weekend as the U.S. considers whether to intervene in the escalating conflict. President Donald Trump is expected to decide within two weeks, adding pressure on Iran to return to nuclear negotiations. Tehran has said it will not resume talks while under Israeli attack. Israel, meanwhile, claims to have hit dozens of military targets to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Investor caution was reflected in trading volumes, which surged to 20.91 billion shares, significantly above the 20-day average. The session also saw heightened volatility due to a quarterly "triple-witching" event—when stock options, index options, and futures contracts expire simultaneously.
Tech megacaps like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) led losses, contributing to the Nasdaq’s weekly dip. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Nasdaq gained 0.2%, and the Dow remained mostly flat.
Investors also digested mixed signals from Federal Reserve officials. While Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of potential inflation spikes from Trump’s tariffs, Governor Christopher Waller suggested a rate cut could come as early as the next meeting. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin, however, remained cautious.
On the corporate front, Kroger (NYSE:KR) soared 9.8% after raising its annual sales forecast. In contrast, Accenture (NYSE:ACN) slid 6.9% on weak third-quarter bookings.
Market breadth was negative, with declining stocks outnumbering gainers on both the NYSE and Nasdaq, reflecting broad investor unease.
