Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
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 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Australia’s Labour Market Weakens as November Employment Drops Sharply 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
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.
