Key Takeaways:
Asian Markets Surge:
- Asian stocks rallied Thursday, supported by Wall Street’s tech-led overnight gains and expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut next week.
- Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged past 40,000 for the first time since mid-October, driven by chip-sector advances and a weaker yen.
- South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.7%, Taiwan’s benchmark gained 1%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 0.4%, and mainland Chinese blue chips added 0.2%.
Australian Dollar Strengthens:
- The Australian dollar rebounded strongly after employment data exceeded expectations, signaling resilience in the labor market.
- The Aussie benefitted from its correlation with the Chinese yuan, which held firm after a marginally stronger official fixing from China’s central bank.
US CPI and Fed Outlook:
- US Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% in November, aligning with forecasts, solidifying expectations of a quarter-point Fed rate cut on Dec. 18.
- Traders now see a 97% likelihood of the Fed cutting rates.
Currency and Bond Markets:
- The US dollar remained strong near a two-week high, bolstered by higher Treasury yields following concerns over a widening US budget deficit.
- US 10-year Treasury yields climbed to 4.2828%, their highest since Nov. 27.
- The euro and Swiss franc remained under pressure ahead of expected rate cuts from the European Central Bank and Swiss National Bank.
Gold and Oil Markets:
- Gold touched a one-month high at $2,725.79 as lower bond yields buoyed its appeal but later eased to $2,710.45.
- Crude oil prices remained steady amid concerns about additional sanctions on Russian oil.
- WTI crude traded at $70.20 per barrel, while Brent crude settled at $73.49 per barrel.
Market Sentiment:
- The as-expected US inflation data cleared a major hurdle, fueling optimism for a year-end rally in equity markets.
- Analysts noted that the "coast is clearer" for investors to chase returns into 2025, supported by the global shift towards monetary easing.
This combination of easing policy expectations and robust economic signals is keeping investors bullish across global markets. However, caution remains as uncertainties around central bank actions and geopolitical risks linger.
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