Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Austria’s AA Credit Rating Affirmed as Fitch Highlights Stable Outlook 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
European Stocks Rise as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Vietnam’s November Trade Sees Monthly Decline but Strong Year-on-Year Growth 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Trump Meets Mexico and Canada Leaders After 2026 World Cup Draw Amid USMCA Tensions 
Wall Street’s major indexes closed mixed on Tuesday as gains in Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) offset losses in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). Investors assessed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest comments, with the Fed in no rush to cut interest rates despite persistent inflation and a strong labor market.
Powell, speaking before the Senate Banking Committee, emphasized that inflation remains above the 2% target, suggesting rate cuts are unlikely in the near term. Meanwhile, traders anticipate at least one 25-basis-point rate cut this year, with a 44% chance of another reduction, per LSEG data.
Investor attention also turned to trade policies after President Donald Trump raised steel and aluminum tariffs, hinting at further reciprocal duties on countries imposing levies on U.S. goods. Market volatility remains high amid economic uncertainties, inflation concerns, and ongoing tariff discussions.
The S&P 500 edged up 0.03% to 6,068.50, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.28% to 44,593.65. The Nasdaq dipped 0.36% to 19,643.86. Trading volume was above average, with 15.4 billion shares exchanged.
Coca-Cola surged 4.7% after beating Q4 revenue estimates due to higher prices and strong demand. Apple rose 2.2% following reports of an AI partnership with Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) in China. Tesla plummeted 6.3% after reports that Elon Musk's consortium bid $97 billion to acquire OpenAI’s controlling nonprofit.
Other notable movers included Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), up 4.7% after Elliott Investment’s $2.5 billion stake revelation, and DuPont de Nemours (NYSE:DD), which soared nearly 7% after raising its 2025 profit forecast. Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) jumped 6.2% on strong earnings guidance, while Fidelity National Information Services (NASDAQ:III) tumbled over 11% due to a weak profit outlook.
