Oil Prices Hold Steady as Markets Track Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Canada Stocks Steady as Markets Await Fed and BoC Decisions 
Gold Prices Inch Higher as Fed Rate-Cut Expectations Strengthen 
Oil Prices Dip as Markets Watch Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
Australia’s Business Conditions Ease in November as Capacity Constraints Persist 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
ECB Signals Steady Rates Ahead as Policymakers Warn of Inflation Risks 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
Global Markets Steady as Yen Holds Firm After Japan Earthquake Amid Central Bank Focus 
Global Forex Markets Brace for Fed Decision as Yen Extends Weakness 
Stocks Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Decision and JPMorgan Warning Weighs on Markets 
Asian Markets Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Rate Cut and Global Policy Decisions 
Wall Street Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Decision; Nvidia Gains on China Chip Sales Approval 
U.S. Open to Special Trade Terms for South Africa Under Possible AGOA Extension 
U.S. stocks ended higher Friday, securing a second consecutive week of gains as strong jobs data and signs of a potential thaw in U.S.-China trade tensions lifted investor sentiment. The Dow Jones rose 564.47 points (1.39%) to 41,317.43, the S&P 500 added 82.54 points (1.47%) to 5,686.68, and the Nasdaq gained 266.99 points (1.51%) to 17,977.73.
April’s U.S. payrolls report showed 177,000 jobs added, exceeding forecasts and keeping unemployment steady at 4.2%. Despite earlier concerns stemming from a GDP contraction—triggered by a surge in tariff-related imports—the labor data signaled resilience. Strategists noted the slowdown in job growth was milder than expected post-tariff announcements.
Markets also reacted positively to news that Beijing is considering Washington’s offer to reopen trade talks after President Trump’s imposition of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. While the trade war remains unresolved, the partial rollback of tariffs helped U.S. indexes rebound. The S&P 500 is now up 0.3% since Trump’s April 2 "Liberation Day" tariffs announcement, and both the S&P and Dow marked their longest winning streaks since 2004 and 2023, respectively.
Big tech delivered mixed performances. Apple fell 4% after cutting its buyback program and warning of $900 million in added costs from tariffs. Meta jumped 4.3%, Nvidia rose 2.6%, while Amazon dipped 0.1%. In energy, Chevron gained 1.6% and ExxonMobil edged up 0.4% on solid earnings.
Block plunged 20% on weak guidance, and Take-Two Interactive dropped 7% after delaying "Grand Theft Auto VI" to 2026. Advancers outpaced decliners by nearly 4-to-1 on the NYSE, reflecting broad market optimism. Trading volume was 16 billion shares, below the recent daily average.
