Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
BOJ Governor Ueda Highlights Uncertainty Over Future Interest Rate Hikes 
Asian Currencies Edge Higher as Markets Look to Fed Rate Cut; Rupee Steadies Near Record Lows 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
U.S. Futures Steady as Rate-Cut Bets Rise on Soft Labor Data 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
According to latest data released this week, construction spending in the United States declined for the fourth time in five months. Since April, spending has declined every month except for in July, when it remained flat on a monthly basis. On a yearly basis, spending has shrunk for the first time in five years by -0.3 percent. The last time it was negative was back in July, when it shrank by -0.6 percent. However, the last time it moved from the positive territory to the negative one was back in December 2007, the onset of the great recession.
One of the major contributors to the decline in construction spending has been the lower commodity prices, especially the energy prices, which has reduced spending in new projects or in up gradation of the current facilities. Trillions of dollars’ worth of spending have been shelved by corporations since 2015.
