Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
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Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
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Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
The U.S. dollar weakened in early Asian trading on Tuesday as investors weighed remarks from Federal Reserve officials on the path of interest rates. The U.S. dollar index slipped to 97.28, extending Monday’s decline after a brief three-day rally.
Market sentiment turned cautious after Fed officials signaled a slower approach to easing monetary policy. St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem said the central bank should “tread cautiously,” while Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic emphasized inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, suggesting no further cuts are needed this year. Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack echoed similar caution, though none of them vote this year. By contrast, new Fed Governor Stephen Miran warned the Fed risks harming the labor market without deeper cuts.
U.S. Treasury yields ticked higher, with the 10-year at 4.1467% and the two-year at 3.6051%, as traders priced in lower chances of an October cut. Futures implied only a 10.2% chance of a hold, up from 8.1% on Friday, according to CME’s FedWatch tool.
The dollar held steady at 147.74 yen, while the euro traded at $1.1798. Sterling was flat at $1.35125, and the Australian dollar edged down to $0.6599. The kiwi slipped to $0.5867 ahead of a central bank leadership announcement. China’s offshore yuan stayed at 7.1158 per dollar.
Elsewhere, Argentina’s peso surged 4.5% after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested possible measures, including swap lines and direct currency purchases, though action would follow talks with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Meanwhile, gold reached a record $3,749.03 per ounce as safe-haven demand strengthened ahead of Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s scheduled remarks later in the day.
