IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
BOJ Faces Pressure for Clarity, but Neutral Rate Estimates Likely to Stay Vague 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
European Oil & Gas Stocks Face 2026 With Cautious Outlook Amid Valuation Pressure 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Wall Street ended higher on Friday as investors digested U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments on China and encouraging earnings from regional banks helped ease concerns over credit risks. Trump acknowledged that his proposed 100% tariffs on Chinese goods would be unsustainable but continued to blame Beijing for stalled trade talks, following China’s move to tighten control over rare earth exports. The tariffs and new export restrictions on critical software are set to take effect on November 1.
Market sentiment improved after a turbulent week for financial stocks. Regional bank shares rebounded sharply following Thursday’s selloff triggered by Zions Bancorporation’s loan losses and Western Alliance’s lawsuit involving Cantor Group V, LLC. Analysts suggested fears over credit quality were overstated, with most banks showing strong fundamentals. Truist Financial gained 3.7% after reporting higher third-quarter profits, while Zions climbed 5.8%, Western Alliance rose 3.1%, and Fifth Third Bancorp added 1.3%.
The S&P Composite 1500 Regional Banks Index advanced 1.8% after a 6% drop the previous day, while the broader S&P 500 financial sector index gained 0.8%. Solid results from JPMorgan and other large banks boosted overall optimism for the third-quarter earnings season. Analysts now expect S&P 500 earnings to grow 9.3%, up from 8.8% earlier in October, according to LSEG I/B/E/S data.
The S&P 500 rose 0.53% to 6,664.01, the Nasdaq gained 0.52% to 22,679.98, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.52% to 46,190.61. Nine of the 11 major S&P sectors advanced, led by consumer staples, up 1.23%. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 1.7%, the Nasdaq 2.1%, and the Dow 1.6%. Market volatility eased, with the CBOE VIX dropping to 21.5 points. Tesla gained 2.5%, Apple rose 2%, and Amazon slipped 0.7%. Eli Lilly fell 2% after Trump vowed to lower weight-loss drug prices, while State Street declined 1.4% on weaker net interest income.
