Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Markets Rebound as Tech Rally Lifts Wall Street, Investors Brace for BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Climb on Venezuela Blockade, Russia Sanctions Fears, and Supply Risks 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Yen Near Lows as Markets Await Bank of Japan Rate Decision, Euro Slips After ECB Signals Caution 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Stock index futures remained mostly flat Thursday evening, stabilizing after a mixed Wall Street session. Investors digested lukewarm economic data and growing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in 2025. Optimism over recent U.S.-China trade de-escalation also supported market sentiment, along with speculation on further trade deals under Donald Trump’s administration.
The S&P 500 futures hovered at 5,935.25, Nasdaq 100 futures stayed at 21,414.50, and Dow Jones futures edged up 0.1% to 42,420. Markets were seen pricing in at least two Fed rate cuts this year, spurred by softer-than-expected producer inflation and retail sales data. However, the Fed has yet to signal a timeline for policy easing.
On Thursday, Wall Street posted a mixed close. The S&P 500 gained 0.4% to 5,916.93, and the Dow Jones rose 0.7% to 42,322.75, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.2% to 19,112.32. The pullback in tech stocks came after a strong rally earlier in the week, although gains in cyclical sectors helped offset declines.
After-hours movers included Vistra Energy (NYSE:VST), which surged nearly 4% after announcing a $1.9 billion acquisition of natural gas assets, aimed at powering AI-focused data centers. Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TTWO) dropped 2.5% after cutting its bookings forecast due to a delay in Grand Theft Auto VI. Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) slid 5.4% as weaker revenue and soft guidance overshadowed its earnings beat.
Despite tech volatility, chipmaker earnings continued to boost investor confidence in AI-driven demand, suggesting further strength in the semiconductor sector in coming quarters.
