Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
U.S. Open to Special Trade Terms for South Africa Under Possible AGOA Extension 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Silver Prices Surge to New Record Above $60 as Supply Concerns and Fed Expectations Boost Demand 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Stocks Slip as Investors Brace for Fed Decision and JPMorgan Warning Weighs on Markets 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Reignites AI Spending Concerns 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Wall Street closed higher on Friday, lifted by technology shares, as optimism over a potential easing of U.S.-China trade tensions buoyed markets. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) surged 1.7% after surpassing earnings expectations and reaffirming its AI investment plans, helping push the S&P 500 technology, consumer discretionary, and communication services sectors up more than 1% each.
Investors are closely watching corporate earnings calls, cautious of any reduced forecasts amid ongoing uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff strategies. Trump claimed in a Time magazine interview that trade talks with China were progressing, though Beijing denied any negotiations, adding to the mixed signals over the global trade outlook. Tariffs imposed since April 2 had raised fears of slowed economic growth.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 20.10 points (0.05%) to 40,113.50, the S&P 500 rose 40.44 points (0.74%) to 5,525.21, and the Nasdaq Composite climbed 216.90 points (1.26%) to 17,382.94. Globally, MSCI’s stock index advanced 0.60%, while Europe’s STOXX 600 added 0.35%. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.8%, fully recovering from tariff-related losses.
The dollar logged its first weekly gain since March, rising 0.07% against a currency basket. It strengthened 0.67% against the yen to 143.555, while the euro edged down 0.11% to $1.1377. Gold prices dropped 1.7% to $3,292.99 an ounce, despite the dollar’s recovery.
U.S. Treasury yields slipped, with the benchmark 10-year note yield falling to 4.268%, reflecting hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut. Oil prices edged higher but posted weekly losses, with Brent closing at $66.87 and WTI at $63.02 per barrel.
