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Market Minutes
Read snapshots of the latest market news
December cut mostly priced; markets look to delayed U.S. data for confirmation
With a December Fed cut largely in the price, equities, bonds, and bullion have firmed while the dollar cools only at the margins. The next test is today’s catch-up prints—retail sales and PPI—unlikely to move the needle unless they deliver a genuine surprise.
Yen slips back into weakness ahead of UK budget test and RBNZ’s expected cut
A quiet Asia session left the yen’s late-week bounce without follow-through, as BoJ delay bets, UK fiscal risk, an RBNZ cut, and a heavy US data backlog shaped the week’s opening tone.
US markets recover amid uncertainty about inflation data
US equity markets staged a sizeable intraday recovery despite the Bureau of Labor Statistics announcing that October’s consumer-price index will not be published and that November’s CPI release will be delayed. The data gap increases uncertainty for the Federal Reserve ahead of its policy decision, prompting markets to place greater weight on private indicators.
Nvidia outperforms in Q3; US jobs data
Nvidia reported third-quarter results that comfortably exceeded market expectations for both revenue and earnings per share, reinforcing its leadership in semiconductors and AI compute. At the same time, revised US labour-market data for September were mixed: non-farm payrolls were revised higher, yet the unemployment rate rose above consensus.
Fed minutes reveal splits; odds of rate cuts decline
Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee revealed a clear division among policymakers, prompting markets to scale back expectations of near-term easing and driving a notable appreciation of the dollar. At the same time, consumer-price inflation in the United Kingdom and euro-area slowed modestly, and oil prices fell despite a larger-than-expected weekly drop in US crude inventories.
Euro stocks fall on policy and valuation uncertainty
European equity markets retreated as investors digested renewed uncertainty over the Federal Reserve’s policy path and lingering concerns about stretched valuations in the technology sector. Softer-than-expected US jobless-claims data reinforced caution, prompting a modest bid for gold as a hedge against policy-driven volatility.
Japan react: GDP dip gives Takaishi case for fiscal stimulus
Japan’s third-quarter GDP slipped more than expected, sharpening the new administration’s argument for fresh fiscal stimulus and adding pressure on the Bank of Japan to move cautiously on tightening. The contraction was driven largely by a sharp housing pullback and softer exports, while underlying domestic demand remained resilient.
Gold drops amid US monetary policy uncertainty
Gold prices fell sharply after hawkish commentary from several Federal Reserve officials reduced the market’s confidence in near-term easing. At the same time, oil rallied following damage to Russian energy infrastructure that disrupted exports. Meanwhile, the activity indicators from China surprised to the downside, prompting modest weakness in Chinese equities.
Fed rate-cut odds drop: markets pull back
Hawkish commentary from several Federal Reserve officials prompted a marked repricing of policy expectations and a sharp correction in equity markets. The market-implied probability of a 25-basis-point cut at the December FOMC meeting fell significantly, and major US indices declined by more than 1.5 per cent.
AMD and Anthropic reaffirm commitment to AI
Technology firms continue to prioritise investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure as they compete for market share. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) reiterated its focus on AI, with management forecasting strong multi-year revenue growth, while Anthropic announced a substantial multi-year infrastructure spend.