Asian stocks slipped at the open on Friday (November 7), following a choppy session on Wall Street. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell about 0.2%, led by losses in Japan, while South Korea and Australia also edged lower. In the US, the S&P 500 fell 1.1% and the Nasdaq 100 slumped 1.9% for the second time in three sessions, as AI stocks from Nvidia and Palantir sold off. The volatility indicator briefly touched 20, reflecting growing market anxiety. In bonds, Treasury prices edged lower early in the Asian session after a strong rally earlier, when the 10-year yield posted its biggest daily...
The dollar was steady on Tuesday but remained close to a three-year low against the euro and a six-month low versus the yen hit last week as investors struggled to make sense of a flurry of U.S. tariffs. However, currency markets were much calmer in early Asian hours after last week's turmoil that hit the dollar hard despite a surge in Treasury yields, highlighting shaky investor confidence in the greenback and U.S. assets. The dollar was up 0.27% at 143.53 yen but remained close to a six-month low of 142.05 hit on Friday. The euro was down 0.22% at $1.1324, just below a three-year high of...
The Japanese Yen (JPY) moved lower during the Asian session on Tuesday (4/15), which, along with a modest uptick in the US Dollar (USD), lifted the USD/JPY pair closer to the mid-143.00s. US President Donald Trump's suspension of tariffs on major consumer electronics and hints that he may temporarily exempt the auto industry from the 25% levy remained supportive of the upbeat market mood. This, in turn, was seen denting demand for traditional safe-haven assets, including the JPY. However, the rapidly escalating US-China trade war and persistent concerns about the potential economic impact...
The Australian Dollar (AUD) strengthened for the fifth straight session against the US Dollar (USD) on Tuesday (15/4). The AUD/USD pair continued to gain momentum after US President Donald Trump exempted key technology products from his new "reciprocal" tariffs, boosting global risk sentiment. The exemptions covered goods largely manufactured in China—such as smartphones, computers, semiconductors, solar cells, and flat-panel displays—which provided a boost to the AUD, as China remains Australia's largest trading partner and a major consumer of its commodities. The minutes from the Reserve...
Gold edged higher in Asia this morning as traders digested mixed signals. On one hand, Fed Governor Waller said overnight that interest rates may have to be cut soon if President Trump's massive tariffs remain in place, which supported the appeal of the non-interest-bearing precious metal. On the other hand, Trump said Monday that he is considering temporarily suspending some tariffs to help automakers, which could dampen gold's appeal as a safe-haven asset. "In the short term, gold once again appears a bit stretched and a period of consolidation may be needed," Fawad Razaqzada, market...
Oil was steady after a sluggish session on Monday, with traders monitoring the latest U.S. moves in the trade war and the prospect of easing curbs on Iranian crude. West Texas Intermediate held near $62 a barrel, with Brent settling just below $65. A degree of calm returned to Wall Street on Monday, with stocks and bonds gaining after a tumultuous week in the grip of President Donald Trump's disruptive tariff policies. Oil has fallen about $10 this month as the trade war stoked fears of a global recession that would hurt energy demand, especially in the U.S. and China — the biggest...