Oil Prices Hold Steady as Ukraine Tensions and Fed Cut Expectations Support Market 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Asian Markets Stabilize as Wall Street Rebounds and Rate Concerns Ease 
China’s Services Sector Posts Slowest Growth in Five Months as Demand Softens 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Dollar Weakens Ahead of Expected Federal Reserve Rate Cut 
Spain’s Industrial Output Records Steady Growth in October Amid Revised September Figures 
Gold Prices Edge Higher as Markets Await Key U.S. PCE Inflation Data 
RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.25% as Inflation Cools and Growth Outlook Strengthens 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Dollar Slides to Five-Week Low as Asian Stocks Struggle and Markets Bet on Fed Rate Cut 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Asian Markets Mixed as RBI Cuts Rates and BOJ Signals Possible Hike 
Asian Currencies Steady as Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Fed Rate Cut Bets 
Asia’s IPO Market Set for Strong Growth as China and India Drive Investor Diversification 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
The Japanese yen slipped on Thursday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates unchanged, while the U.S. dollar maintained its strength as traders scaled back expectations of another Federal Reserve rate cut this year. The yen fell 0.1% to 152.90 per dollar, reversing earlier gains. The euro rose 0.2% to 177.50 yen, and the British pound climbed 0.15% to 201.70 yen.
As widely anticipated, the BOJ maintained its current monetary policy stance but reaffirmed its commitment to gradually raising borrowing costs if economic growth aligns with forecasts. Analysts suggest the central bank is likely to remain cautious under the newly elected Takaichi administration, which is preparing another stimulus package. According to Carol Kong, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the BOJ will likely avoid major policy shifts in the near term due to political sensitivities.
Market participants believe Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s preference for fiscal expansion and loose monetary policy could complicate the BOJ’s tightening path.
Meanwhile, global market sentiment was upbeat following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both leaders hinted that a U.S.-China trade deal could be finalized soon, lifting investor confidence. The dollar index steadied near a two-week high at 99.09, supported by hawkish remarks from the Fed.
The euro gained slightly to $1.1613, while sterling remained near a five-and-a-half-month low at $1.3202. The Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut was offset by Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious comments, suggesting limited scope for further easing this year.
Elsewhere, the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose 0.2% each, buoyed by a stronger Chinese yuan, which hit a near one-year high at 7.0955 per dollar on optimism over Sino-U.S. trade progress.
