Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Gold Prices Dip as Markets Absorb Dovish Fed Outlook; Silver Eases After Record High 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
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 Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Indonesia–U.S. Tariff Talks Near Completion as Both Sides Push for Year-End Deal 
U.S. stock index futures inched higher Wednesday evening as optimism over easing U.S.-China trade tensions lifted sentiment. Investor focus also shifted toward key tech earnings, with Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) set to report its Q1 results.
S&P 500 Futures and Nasdaq 100 Futures both rose 0.1% to 5,406.25 and 18,817.50 points, respectively, while Dow Jones Futures dipped 0.2% to 39,713.0. The modest gains followed a strong Wall Street session, driven by President Donald Trump’s suggestion of potentially cutting the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports—conditioned on China returning to the negotiating table.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that while the current tariff exchange is unsustainable, there has been no unilateral offer to reduce duties. China, meanwhile, recently imposed 125% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, showing limited interest in de-escalation talks.
Wall Street reacted positively, with the S&P 500 climbing 1.7% to 5,375.82, the NASDAQ surging 2.5% to 16,708.05, and the Dow gaining 1.1% to close at 39,606.57. However, all three indexes closed off their intraday highs amid ongoing market uncertainty.
Investor confidence was also supported by Trump softening his stance against the Federal Reserve, clarifying he does not plan to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell despite earlier criticisms over interest rates.
Looking ahead, Alphabet’s earnings are highly anticipated, especially regarding its AI investments and future spending plans. Other major companies scheduled to report Thursday include Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS), PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD), and Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA).
As investors navigate trade policy shifts and corporate earnings, market volatility is expected to remain elevated.
