Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Australia’s Economic Growth Slows in Q3 Despite Strong Investment Activity 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Wall Street surged to new heights on Friday as cooler-than-expected inflation data and strong corporate earnings lifted all three major U.S. stock indexes to record closes. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq logged their biggest weekly gains since August, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average marked its largest weekly rise since June.
The Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September showed inflation remained elevated but slightly below analyst forecasts, easing concerns over tariff-driven price pressures. The softer CPI data strengthened expectations for a 25-basis-point interest rate cut when the Federal Reserve meets next week. The report was especially notable amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown that has delayed many economic releases.
“We got some good news on the inflation front as the benign CPI data opened the door for Fed rate cuts next week and likely in December,” said Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group.
Third-quarter earnings have been outperforming expectations. Of the 143 S&P 500 companies that have reported so far, 87% beat earnings estimates and 83% topped revenue forecasts. Analysts now project overall S&P 500 earnings growth of 10.4% year-over-year, up from 8.8% at the start of October, according to LSEG data.
Tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple are set to report next week, potentially driving further market momentum. On Friday, Alphabet rose 2.7% after Anthropic expanded its deal to use up to one million of Google’s AI chips. Coinbase gained 9.8% following a JPMorgan upgrade, while Ford jumped 12.2% after strong quarterly results.
The Dow climbed 472.51 points to 47,207.12, the S&P 500 advanced 53.25 points to 6,791.69, and the Nasdaq gained 263.07 points to close at 23,204.87.
As investors anticipate a Fed rate cut and more tech earnings, optimism for a strong year-end rally continues to build across Wall Street.
