Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at record highs Wednesday, driven by strong gains in Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and GE Vernova amid signs of a potential U.S.-EU trade agreement. The deal, expected to mirror President Trump’s prior accord with Japan, could introduce a broad 15% tariff on EU imports, including cars, according to diplomats.
The S&P 500 rose 0.78% to 6,358.91, while the Nasdaq added 0.61% to 21,020.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 1.14% to 45,010.29, just shy of a record close. Year-to-date, the S&P 500 has advanced about 8% and the Nasdaq nearly 9%, buoyed by optimism over trade and robust corporate earnings.
GE Vernova surged 14.6% after boosting revenue and free cash flow forecasts, benefiting from soaring AI and cryptocurrency data center energy demand. Nvidia gained 2.25%, continuing its leadership in the AI chip market. Thermo Fisher (NYSE: TMO) also jumped 9% on strong earnings, while Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN) plunged 13% after weak guidance signaled soft demand for analog chips, dragging peers like NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) and Analog Devices (NASDAQ: ADI) lower.
Market volatility eased, with the CBOE Volatility Index hitting a five-month low. Investors now await U.S. jobless claims and PMI data for further economic signals. Fed rate cuts are viewed as unlikely next week, with September odds around 58%, per CME FedWatch.
Trading volume was heavy at 19.1 billion shares, above the 20-day average. Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners in the S&P 500 by more than 2-to-1, with 50 new highs recorded.
