Asian stocks rallied after gauges of US and global equities hit fresh records, with sentiment boosted by this week’s Federal Reserve’s rate cut and its upbeat assessment of the US economy. MSCI Inc.’s index of Asian shares was up 0.9% on Friday, poised for its highest close since Nov. 14. Japan’s Topix led regional gains and approached an all-time high, with financials favored on bets that a Bank of Japan interest-rate hike next week is all but certain. Chinese equities on the mainland underperformed after the nation’s leadership signaled it will maintain economic support but refrain from ramping up stimulus next year. While the S&P 500 rose 0.2% to an all-time high on Thursday, some caution for tech names persisted. Shares of Broadcom Inc., a chip company vying with Nvidia Corp. for AI computing revenue, slid in late trading after its sales outlook for red-hot market failed to meet investors’ lofty expectations. S&P 500 futures were steady on Friday though contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 fell 0.2%. The MSCI All Country World Index — one of the broadest measures of the stock market — edged 0.1% higher on Friday after closing at a record in the previous session. Up nearly 21% in 2025, it is on track for its best year since 2019. Meanwhile, the Asian gauge is less than 2% away from an all-time high reached in late October. Delivering a third consecutive interest-rate reduction on Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell voiced optimism that the US economy will strengthen as the inflationary impact from tariffs fades away. While officials maintained their outlook for just one cut in 2026, traders have stuck to bets for two such moves. The Fed now expects the US economy to grow by 2.3% next year, up from its previous projection of 1.8%, while anticipating that the pace of inflation will slow to 2.4%. An index of the dollar traded around a two-month low on Friday and was on track for a third weekly loss. Yields on 10-year Treasuries were steady after a small gain on Thursday, when data showed that initial jobless claims rose more than expected in the Dec. 6 week. In Asia, Thailand’s currency and stocks advanced after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolved parliament late Thursday, setting the stage for an early election after reports of a key political party backing his minority government moving to withdraw its support. Elsewhere, the Malaysian ringgit reached the strongest level against the dollar in more than four years, reflecting optimism on the Southeast Asian country’s economy and easing trade tensions. In commodities, copper steaded after climbing to a fresh record high on Thursday as most other industrial metals rose after the Fed move. Gold edged lower after three days of gains, supported by the prospect of further monetary easing in the US, while silver traded near a record high. Oil rallied from its lowest close in almost two months and Bitcoin flip-flopped in a tight range around $92,500. The tech sector continued to be on traders’ radar after dominating much of the recent market action following Oracle Corp.’s results — which brought worries about valuations and whether heavy spending on AI infrastructure will pay off back into focus. A gauge of technology stocks in Asia underperformed the broader market on Friday after Broadcom’s late slide in the US. US After Hours LULU +10.3%, RH +9.8% higher on earnings; AVGO -3.2%, COST -0.6% lower on earnings; WEST +6.2% on insider buy.
Nikkei +1.38% Hang Seng +1.66% CSI +0.51% Shanghai +0.32% Shenzen +0.62%
Eur$ 1.1755 CNH 7.0521 CNY 7.0557 JPY 155.79 GBP 1.3396 CHF 0.7949 RUB 80.2321 TRY 42.6917 WTI$ 58.50 +0.78% Gold 4,280 +0.02% BTC 92,610 -0.30% ETH 3,258.5 +0.24% SOL 139.4180 1.73%
S&P +0.00% Nasdaq -0.13% EuroStoxx +0.50% FTSE +0.41% Dax +0.50% SMI +0.02%
Macro :
- Argentina Against Oil Exploration by Some Companies in Malvinas
- Trump Signs Order Targeting Proxy Advisors Glass Lewis, ISS
- Citi Eyes Trillion-Dollar Values for Defense Companies Like GE
- Strategist Forecasts for European Stock Indexes in 2026 (Table)
- China’s Last ‘Too-Big-to-Fail’ Housing Giant Loses State Support
- Czech Billionaire Says He Wants to Create Europe’s Defense Giant
- Economists Agree With ECB’s Schnabel That Next Move Will Be Hike
- Strategists See Stoxx 600 Rising 7% by the End of 2026: Survey
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- ABI BB : Anheuser-Busch to Sell New Jersey Brewery, Close Some Sites: Fox
- BABA US : Oracle’s Credit Slump Is Warning for Tencent, Alibaba Bonds
- ASML NA : ASML CEO Plots to Keep Pace With AI Demand and Nvidia's Huang
- BAVA DC : Bavarian in Talks With Investors About Board Composition
- BNP FP : BNPP Polska Holder BNP Paribas Offers 9.2m Shares: Terms, BNP Paribas Bank Polska Offering Prices at 120 Zloty/Shr: Terms
- BNP FP : BNP Paribas in Talks to Sell Its Stake in Moroccan Bank BMCI
- AVGO US : Broadcom Sees 1Q Revenue About $19.1B, Est. $18.48B, Broadcom Shares Slide After Investors Seek Bigger AI Payoff
- DBRG US : SoftBank’s Son Eyes Data Center Group Switch to Expand in AI
-EDEN FP : Eiffage to Replace Edenred in Paris’ CAC 40 Index, Euronext Says
- FGR FP : Eiffage to Replace Edenred in Paris’ CAC 40 Index, Euronext Says
- EMEIS FP : Emeis Sells Swiss Nursing Home Business for €270 Million
- ENITY SS : Enity Holding Holder Butterfly Holdco Offers 8m Shares
- ENITY SS : Enity Holding Holder Butterfly Holdco Offers 8m Shares
- ETL FP : Eutelsat Says Rights Issue Amounts to ~€670M at €1.35/New Share
- GMAB DC : Genmab Announces Completion of Tender Offer for Outstanding Common Shares of Merus N.V. and Commencement of Subsequent Offering
- G IM : Generali Said to Confirm All Targets After Failed Natixis Deal
- G IM : Generali Said to Confirm All Targets After Failed Natixis Deal
- HEN3 GY : FTC Weighs Antitrust Challenge of Henkel Bid for Adhesive Maker
- HKLD LN : Hongkong Land to Set Up S$8 Billion Property Fund in Singapore
- DEC FP : JCDecaux, Pargesa Sell Additional Stakes in APG|SGA to NZZ
- KESKOB FH : Kesko Nov. Comparable Sales +0.8%
- KOS LN : Kosmos Energy denies Senegal nationalisation plans for Yakaar-Teranga gas field
- LooMIS SS : Loomis Reports 4Q SEK320m Impairment Charge, SEK40m Provision
- LULU US : Lululemon Jumps With Higher Profit Forecast, New CEO Plan
- MELI US : MercadoLibre Co-Founder Stelleo Tolda Sells $503,778 of Shares
- MSFT US : *MICROSOFT PLEDGES TO CREATE ‘HUMAN ALIGNED’ SUPER INTELLIGENCE
- MIPS SS : Mips Buys Koroyd, SCP George for €40m
- NEUZZZ SW : NZZ Plans to Increase Its Stake in APG|SGA to 45% From 25%
- NVDA US : Nvidia H200 Chips Will Go to China After US Inspection: Leavitt
- PARG SW : JCDecaux, Pargesa Sell Additional Stakes in APG|SGA to NZZ
- PST IM : Poste Italiane Boosts Stake in Telecom Italia to 27.32%
- RIVN US : Rivian Tumbles After Unveiling AI Chip for Self-Driving Push
- SOLB BB : German Authorities Urge Solvay to Cut Unreported SF6 Emissions
- SOP FP : Sopra Steria Names Rajesh Krishnamurthy as CEO
- STM SP : Seatrium Shares Jump After Securing German Wind Power Contract
- SHEL LN : Valaris Wins $300 Million Shell Contract for Drillship
- TIT IM : Poste Italiane Boosts Stake in Telecom Italia to 27.32%
- UBER US : Uber Boss Targeting Robotaxis in More Than 10 Markets Next Year
- UBSG SW : Some Swiss Lawmakers Present Capital Reform Compromise: NZZ
- UN01 GY : Uniper moves ahead with 50-MW German BESS, Scottish PV project
- VID SM : Vidrala to Acquire Cristalerías Toro
- MF FP : Wendel to Return at Least €1.6 Billion to Shareholders by 2030