Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Precious Metals Rally as Silver and Platinum Outperform on Rate Cut Bets 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Wall Street closed mixed on Thursday as investor sentiment improved slightly amid progress in U.S.-Japan trade talks, though caution prevailed ahead of the Good Friday holiday. The S&P 500 inched up 0.13% to 5,282.70, while the Nasdaq dipped 0.13% to 16,286.45. The Dow Jones slid 1.33% to 39,142.23, dragged down by UnitedHealth’s 22% plunge after the insurer cut its profit forecast due to surging medical costs.
Eli Lilly shares jumped 14% after reporting its experimental pill matched the performance of Ozempic in reducing blood sugar and weight. Apple rose 1.4%, rebounding from recent losses. However, broader sentiment remained cautious as traders eyed President Donald Trump's tariff strategy and comments on potential trade agreements with China and Japan. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and called for rate cuts, raising concerns over central bank independence.
Market volumes were lighter than usual, with 14.6 billion shares traded versus a 20-day average of 19.2 billion. Energy and consumer staples led gains among S&P 500 sectors, up 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively.
Despite Thursday’s slight recovery, major indexes logged weekly losses: the S&P 500 fell 1.5%, the Nasdaq 2.6%, and the Dow 2.7%. Since April 2—when Trump announced global tariffs—the S&P 500 remains down roughly 7%.
In extended hours, Netflix gained 2.5% after beating earnings forecasts and issuing a bullish outlook. Meanwhile, Alphabet shares dropped 1.4% following a legal ruling that Google illegally dominated ad tech markets.
Jobless claims data showed stable labor conditions, but businesses remain cautious due to tariff uncertainties. As recession risks rise and investors demand clear trade outcomes, market volatility is expected to persist in the weeks ahead.
