MONEY MASTER

Global  equities  staged  a  modest  rebound   on  Friday  after  several  sessions  of  heavy  selling,  as  oil  prices  slipped  below  the $100  per  barrel  threshold .  However,  investors  remain  cautious  as  the  escalating  conflict  involving  Iran  continues  to  threaten  energy  supply  chains ,  raising  concerns  about  inflation  and  interest  rate  trajectories. While  lower  oil  prices  provided  temporary  relief  to  equity  markets,  the  broader  outlook  remains  clouded  by  geopolitical  uncertainty  and  shifting  expectations  around  central  bank  policy. Oil  Prices  Ease  but  Energy ...

Wall Street ended Thursday lower as  renewed U.S.-China trade tensions  and  concerns over bad loans at several U.S. banks  overshadowed upbeat earnings from  Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) . Market Overview All three major U.S. stock indices closed in the red: Dow Jones Industrial Average  fell  301.07 points (0.7%)  to  45,952.24 S&P 500 Index  slipped  0.6%  to  6,629.07 Nasdaq Composite Index  lost  0.5%  to  22,562.54 The declines came amid heightened uncertainty around trade relations and banking sector health, leading to a shift toward safe-haven assets such as  gold  and  silver , which both surged to record highs. Trade Tensions Add to Market Volatility The  U.S.-China trade dispute  reignited after  Beijing imposed new export controls on rare earth metals , key materials for electric vehicles and high-tech products. In response,  President ...

U.S. Treasury yields sank on Thursday, with the  10-year note closing at 3.976% , its  lowest level of 2025 , marking a significant break below the psychologically important 4% line. This is only the second time yields have fallen below that threshold this year—the last being in April, following President Trump’s tariff announcement. Yields Drop as Economic Weakness Emerges The decline in yields comes as investors increasingly seek safety amid  weak U.S. economic data ,  rising banking concerns , and  renewed U.S.–China trade tensions . New York Fed  data showed a sharp contraction in services activity across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Philadelphia Fed  manufacturing activity dropped to a six-month low. “These are not big hitters, but they point to macro weakness,” said  Padhraic Garvey , head of research for the Americas at ING. Market Dynamics: Fed Cuts, Inflation, and Shutdown Effects The move lower in yields reflects  growing ...

Gold prices surged to a  new record high  on Tuesday, marking a  third straight session of gains  as investors piled into safe-haven assets amid  US political gridlock  and rising expectations of  further Federal Reserve rate cuts . Spot gold  traded at  US$3,961.64/oz  at 0055 GMT after touching an all-time peak of  US$3,977.19 , while  December gold futures  climbed 0.2% to  US$3,985.50 . Market bets now price in  95% odds  of a  25-basis-point cut in October  and an  83% chance  of another in December, according to the  CME FedWatch Tool . The  White House  has warned that the ongoing  government shutdown , now entering its  seventh day , could soon result in job losses. “Gold continues to thrive in a low-rate, high-uncertainty environment,” analysts said, noting the metal’s appeal as inflation risks linger and political tensions escalate. Gold has soared 51% y...

Asian shares dipped on Thursday , weighed down by weak Chinese markets. Meanwhile, US bond yields climbed, pushing the dollar higher as investors evaluated inflation expectations and policy direction in the US. Bitcoin steadied above $90,000 , fueled by optimism around Donald Trump’s presidency, seen as favorable for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin was last trading at $90,151, up 1.7% , having gained over 30% in the last two weeks. Investors are speculating on Federal Reserve rate cuts next month following a recent inflation report. However, Trump's anticipated policies of tax cuts and higher tariffs could raise inflation, limiting the Fed's flexibility in 2025. With Republicans projected to control Congress , Trump’s agenda could move forward largely unopposed. In Asia, China’s latest economic support measures fell short of investor expectations . The country’s property sector remains weak, with tax incentives on home and land transactions failing to boost sentiment. Longer-dated...

South Korea has made significant strides to get its bonds included in the FTSE Russell World Government Bond Index (WGBI) , while India , despite slower reforms, has gained popularity with global investors, positioning it for potential inclusion in a related FTSE benchmark. FTSE Russell will announce any inclusions on Oct. 8 , impacting the US$29 trillion global fixed income market . South Korea has met all the requirements for WGBI inclusion after overhauling its currency and debt-market operations , including extending won trading hours and setting up Euroclear access for foreign investors. Despite these efforts, low bond trading volumes via Euroclear may delay its inclusion until 2025. If successful, South Korea expects US$68 billion in capital inflows . India , on the other hand, has not implemented Euroclear and faces challenges with registration, settlement, and taxation , but it was still included in JPMorgan’s emerging-market bond index earlier this year. India’s bonds have...