Asian stocks followed gains in US equities as cooling inflation backed the case for Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts. The yen fell as traders bet the Bank of Japan will stay cautious despite raising rates Friday as expected. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6%, with technology giants such as SoftBank Group Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. among the biggest contributors. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8% Thursday, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 rose 1.5%. Gains were helped by a solid outlook from giant Micron Technology Inc., easing concerns over artificial intelligence spending and valuations. The US inflation data bolstered sentiment despite caveats over the data tied to the recent government shutdown, with markets focusing instead on the slowest increase in consumer prices since early 2021. The print boosted investor confidence and bolstered Treasuries on renewed expectations of Fed rate cuts. The yen dropped against all its Group-of-10 peers and Japan’s benchmark bond yield climbed to 2% for the first time in almost two decades after the BOJ raised its benchmark rate to the highest level since 1995. All 50 economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted that outcome. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda will elaborate on his thinking behind Friday’s policy decision and the future rate trajectory at a press briefing starting at 3:30 p.m. Tokyo time. The slowdown in US inflation came with some data issues. The Bureau of Labor Statistics couldn’t collect prices throughout October because of the temporary government shutdown, and it started sampling later than usual in November. Swaps are implying about 20% odds of a Fed rate cut in January, with a reduction fully priced in by mid-2026. Traders are also sticking with their call that the central bank lowers rates twice next year. In commodities, crude headed for a second weekly loss despite tensions around a US naval blockade of sanctioned tankers calling at Venezuela, with futures weighed down by expectations for a global surplus. Brent has slipped more than 2% this week. Precious metals remained in favor. Platinum was near $1,930 an ounce, on track for a seventh day of gains and close to the highest level since 2008. The surge has come as the London market shows signs of tightening, with banks parking metal in the US to insure against the risk of tariffs. US After Hours NKE -9.4% lower on earnings; FDX +2.1% higher on earnings; LNKB +6.5% higher on merger with BHRB; WSJ reports that OpenAI financing round may push valuation toward $830 bln.
Nikkei +1.03 Hang Seng +0.65% CSI +0.33% Shanghai +0.33% Shenzen +0.97%
Eur$ 1.1718 CNH 7.0356 CNY 7.0412 JPY 156.08 GBP 1.3372 CHF 0.7952 RUB 79.8855 TRY 42.8074 WTI$ 56.02 -0.13% Gold 4,322 -0.27% BTC 87,050 +1.68% ETH 2,919 +3.05% SOL 122.8580 +2.12%
S&P -0.08% Nasdaq +0.à8% EuroStoxx -0.21% FTSE -0.39 Dax -0.19% SMI -0.19%
- Tech Billionaires Pledge $1 Billion for CERN’s Next Breakthrough
- ‘Swiss Cheese’ CPI Report Raises Doubts About US Price Data
- ECB Officials Say Cycle of Rate Cuts Is Most Likely Over
- Goldman Says Next Phase of Market Rally to See Higher Volatility
Keep an eye on :
Keep an eye on :
- ABVX US : Abivax to be Added to Nasdaq Biotechnology Index
- Altice : Patrick Drahi Creditors Are Suckers for Punishment: Chris Hughes
- AMZN US : Amazon, Google Among 24 Firms Joining US AI ‘Genesis Mission’
- AZN LN : Niowave Expands AstraZeneca Deal to 10-Year Actinium-225 Supply
- AZN LN : Syneron Bio Raises Nearly $100m in Series A and A+ Rounds
- BIOAB SS : EQT Life Sciences Acquires 347,500 Shares in BioArctic
- BMW GY : BMW Extends Share Buyback With Second Tranche
- COTY US : Coty Is Said to Sell Remaining 25.8% Stake in Wella to KKR
- ACA FP : French AMF Fines Caceis Bank €3.5M for Failings Related to H20
- EQT SS : EQT Life Sciences Acquires 347,500 Shares in BioArctic
- RF FP : Eurazeo Agrees to Sell About €260M of Assets to Third Party
- FAGR BB : Fagron Makes Two Acquisitions For ~€55m, Gets New US License
- FDX US : FedEx CEO’s Sweeping Network Overhaul Is Starting to Bear Fruit
- GLPG NA : Galapagos TYK2 Inhibitor Succeeds in a Study, Misses in Another
- HBH GY : Hornbach Holding 3Q Adjusted Ebit EU27.3M Vs. EU34.6M Y/y
- IBAB BB : IBA Buys ORA for Total Consideration €15M-€20M
- IPN FP : Ipsen Says Phase II Falkon Study Didn’t Meet Primary Endpoint
- LiNDEX FH : Lindex Explores Separation of Department Store Business
- MATAS DC : Matas Appoints Mette Uglebjerg as Group CEO Starting 1 May 2026
- BMPS IM : Italy Didn’t Influence Paschi’s Bid on Mediobanca, Minister Says
- NEXI IM : Nexi Rejects TPG’s €1 Billion Bid for Digital Banking Unit
- NEXI IM : Nexi Rejects TPG’s €1 Billion Bid for Digital Banking Unit
- NKE US : Nike 2Q Revenue Beats Estimates: Snapshot --> -4% in after hours
- NKE US : Nike’s Weakness in China, Converse Spur Growing Concern
- NOBA SS : Noba Bank Buys DBT Capital for SEK403m in Cash
- NVDA US : House Democrats Introduce Bill to Ban US AI Chip Sales to China
- PIRC IM : Sinochem’s Pirelli Stake Down to 34% After Bond Conversion
- PRX NA : Just Eat to Redeem 2026, 2028 Convertible Bonds on Jan. 19
- PRY IM : Prysmian to Proceed With Channell $200M Earn-Out Payment
- PUM GY : Puma Secures €500M Bridge Loan, Confirmed Credit Lines of €108M
- RNO FP : *RENAULT RAISED TO INVESTMENT GRADE BY S&P
- RWE GY : PGE Signs Conditional Deal to Buy Offshore Wind Project From RWE
- RWE GY : *RWE, INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY SIGN LONG-TERM PPA
- SCR FP : Scor Renews Contingent Capital Program Through 2028
- TSLA US : Elon Musk’s SpaceX bought tens of millions worth of Cybertrucks Tesla can’t sell - Electrek
- TSLA US : Tesla’s ‘Musk Premium’ in Focus With SpaceX IPO in View
- TMUS US : SpaceX, AT&T Spectrum Licenses Plan Queried by Warren, Democrats
- VWS DC : Vestas Soars 74% in 2025 on Order Growth, Easing Policy Fears
- WYFI US : *WHITEFIBER SHARES JUMP 15% ON DATA CENTER PACT WITH NSCALE