Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
US stock index futures saw little movement in holiday-thinned trade on Sunday, as investors remained cautious over President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and persistent inflation concerns. Futures stabilized after a mixed Wall Street session on Friday, where the S&P 500 closed just below record highs, driven by technology stocks, while other sectors lagged.
Investor attention now turns to Federal Reserve speakers and the minutes from the Fed’s January meeting, where interest rates were held steady. Last week’s strong inflation data has tempered hopes for near-term rate cuts. S&P 500 Futures rose slightly to 6,135.50 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures inched up 0.1% to 22,212.50 points, and Dow Jones Futures remained steady at 44,646.0 points. Trading volumes were subdued with US markets closed for a holiday on Monday.
Market sentiment was weighed down by Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and his executive order for reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, heightening fears of a global trade war. However, Trump indicated that these tariffs would take effect in April, providing temporary relief.
On Friday, the S&P 500 ended flat at 6,114.63 points, the NASDAQ Composite gained 0.4% to 20,026.77 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.4% to 44,546.08 points.
This week, markets will closely monitor speeches from Federal Open Market Committee members Patrick Harker and Michelle Bowman. Their remarks follow mixed inflation data from last week, where core components influencing the Fed’s preferred PCE price index showed signs of easing, raising hopes for inflation nearing the central bank’s 2% target. Investors await insights on future monetary policy from the Fed amid ongoing economic uncertainties.
