MONEY MASTER

 Key Takeaways Fed expected to cut rates by 25 bps to 4.00%-4.25%; markets watching Powell’s tone for guidance. Dollar index lingers near 2-month low; euro touched a four-year high before slight pullback. Gold extends record run, crossing US$3,700/oz for the first time; investors position for dovish Fed. Asian equities mixed: Hang Seng leads with 1.4% gain on optimism over TikTok deal; Nikkei slips. Oil steadies after recent surge; Ukraine drone strikes keep supply risks elevated. FX & Commodities The  US dollar index  edged up 0.1% to 96.72 after sliding 0.7% on Tuesday, its sharpest fall since July. The euro traded at US$1.1855, near its strongest level since 2021, while the yen held at ¥146.43. Markets have already priced in over five rate cuts this cycle, leaving limited room for further downside in the dollar. Gold  climbed 0.2% to US$3,683/oz after breaking above US$3,700 for the first time, supported by Fed easing expectations and safe-haven flows.  O...

  Key Takeaway Asian markets tracked Wall Street higher on Friday as investors grew more confident the Federal Reserve will cut rates on Sept 17. Treasury yields slipped to multi-month lows, while traders braced for the U.S. August non-farm payrolls report later in the day. Market Highlights Wall Street:  S&P 500 closed +0.8% at a record high; Nasdaq gained 1%. Futures point to more modest gains. Asia: Japan’s  Nikkei +0.8% , nearing record highs Taiwan benchmark +0.8% Hong Kong Hang Seng +0.4% China blue chips +0.4% Australia +0.3% Bonds & Rates U.S. Treasury yields eased to four-month lows: 10-year:  4.15% 2-year:  3.58% 30-year:  4.84% Japanese 30-year JGB:  3.235% , retreating from record high. Fed funds futures: Markets price in  25 bps cut in September  and ~60 bps of easing by year-end. Currencies & Commodities Dollar Index:  Down 0.1% to 98.095; still up 0.3% for the week. Gold:  Steady at  US$3,552/oz , off...

Asian markets retreated on Friday after recent highs, as investors took profits and adopted a cautious stance ahead of a high-stakes week filled with  geopolitical risks, key economic data, and major central bank decisions . Market Snapshot: Asia Pulls Back Japan’s Topix  fell  0.7%  after hitting a record high earlier in the week Nikkei  eased  0.5%  from a one-year peak Hang Seng  dropped  0.5% ,  mainland China  slid  0.2% ,  Australia  slipped  0.5% Meanwhile, the  US dollar strengthened , and the  yen weakened  as: US economic data came in firm Japanese political uncertainty  grew amid reports that PM Shigeru Ishiba might resign Global Markets Still Optimistic S&P 500 futures +0.2% , after Alphabet’s strong earnings pushed the index to a fresh record Nasdaq also hit a new high MSCI World Index  dipped  0.1%  but remains near record levels, eyeing a  1.3% weekly gai...