Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
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 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
The U.S. dollar hovered near multi-year lows on Wednesday as markets weighed dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and concerns over the fiscal impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending bill. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, edged up to 96.677 but remained close to Tuesday’s 16-month low of 96.373.
Powell, speaking at the European Central Bank’s forum in Sintra, Portugal, signaled a patient stance on interest rate cuts while leaving the door open for a potential reduction this month. Traders are now focused on Thursday’s U.S. non-farm payrolls report, following labor market resilience shown in the latest JOLTS data, which gave the dollar a modest lift.
The euro held firm at $1.1802 after peaking at $1.1829 overnight, its highest since September 2021. The Swiss franc remained strong, with the dollar trading at 0.7906 after hitting 0.7873—its weakest since January 2015. Sterling edged higher to $1.37435, nearing October 2021 levels.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recently passed Senate bill, projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt, raised concerns about ballooning U.S. fiscal deficits and bond issuance. Analysts say increased government spending could weigh further on Treasury markets and the dollar.
Additional pressure came from Trump’s criticism of Powell, including a handwritten note suggesting the U.S. interest rate should fall between Japan’s 0.5% and Denmark’s 1.75%, accusing the Fed Chair of being “too late” again.
Against the yen, the dollar inched up 0.1% to 143.59, recovering slightly from a 0.4% drop in the previous session.
Investors now await upcoming economic data to gauge the Fed’s next move and its impact on the dollar’s trajectory.
