Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
U.S. markets were rattled Friday as sharp downward revisions to prior jobs data and President Donald Trump’s sudden firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) chief fueled fears over economic data reliability and Federal Reserve policy.
The July employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rising by just 73,000, well below forecasts of 110,000. June’s figure was slashed from 147,000 to 14,000, and May’s was revised from 144,000 to 19,000 — a combined downward revision of 258,000 jobs. Economists warned such significant adjustments suggest the Fed may have misread the labor market and could accelerate rate cuts to stabilize growth.
Trump, alleging the data was “rigged” to damage Republicans, ordered BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer’s dismissal, a move analysts say risks undermining trust in future economic reports. The turmoil coincided with the resignation of Fed Governor Adriana Kugler, giving Trump an opportunity to reshape the Federal Open Market Committee amid already strained relations.
Markets swiftly priced in easing: CME data showed the probability of a September rate cut jumping to 81% from 38% the day before. Treasury yields plunged, with the 10-year falling 15 basis points to 4.22%, its steepest drop since April, while the S&P 500 slid 1.6% to its lowest level since early July.
Investors remain concerned about the dual drag of weakening employment and Trump’s tariffs, which could worsen inflation and stall growth. Analysts warn job creation is nearing “stall speed,” raising fears of a potential recession.
The Fed, led by Chair Jerome Powell, faces heightened pressure to navigate policy amid unreliable data, shifting trade policies, and mounting market anxiety.
