Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
The Japanese yen surged to a nine-week high as investors bet on further interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BOJ), while the U.S. dollar held steady ahead of key payroll data. The dollar slid 0.25% to 151.09 yen, breaking below 151 for the first time since December 10. Market momentum was fueled by expectations of continued rate hikes, supported by recent wage data. BOJ board member Naoki Tamura reinforced hawkish sentiment, suggesting rates should reach at least 1% in fiscal 2025.
Analysts at Barclays see further downside for the dollar-yen pair, citing Japan's annual wage negotiations, which are expected to yield another solid 5% increase. Inflation remains above the BOJ’s 2% target, adding to pressure for higher rates.
Meanwhile, traders await U.S. nonfarm payroll data, with economists forecasting a steady 4.1% unemployment rate and 170,000 new jobs in January. However, revisions by the U.S. Census Bureau may complicate market reactions, analysts at Commerzbank warned.
Dallas Fed Bank President Lorie Logan signaled a prolonged rate hold, even if inflation nears the Fed’s 2% goal, provided the labor market stays strong. Market expectations suggest a 43% chance of a Fed rate cut in July, with around 44 basis points of total cuts priced in for 2025.
Elsewhere, the euro remained flat at $1.0382, while the British pound dipped 0.1% to $1.2426 following the Bank of England’s forecast of weaker growth and higher inflation. Two BOE officials even advocated for larger rate cuts.
Geopolitical risks persist as U.S. President Donald Trump suspended tariffs on Mexico and Canada but imposed new 10% levies on Chinese imports, adding to market uncertainty.
