Asian equities advanced on Wednesday, supported by strong buying in technology shares, while oil prices surged more than 1% following an escalation of U.S. sanctions pressure on Venezuela.

Most Asian markets fell on Monday, led by declining technology shares amid weak U.S. earnings guidance. Chinese stocks showed relative resilience, but wider economic fears suggest increased stimulus pressures.

Oracle's disappointing earnings and soaring expenses have raised fears about AI spending sustainability, causing Nvidia and other related stocks to decline amidst heightened competition and concerns over mounting debt.

Asian shares showed mixed performance as investors bet on a likely Federal Reserve rate cut this week. However, tensions within the Fed suggest a contentious meeting, sparking cautious market sentiment.

Asian markets stabilized thanks to Wall Street's recovery, with Bitcoin regaining $90,000. Investor focus shifts to a potential Federal Reserve rate cut, improving overall market sentiment ahead of December.

Following a historic surge in 2025 that saw prices climb over 60% and break records more than 50 times, gold investors are now looking ahead to assess whether the precious metal can sustain its momentum into 2026. Despite outperforming most major asset classes and heading for its best annual performance since 1979, analysts are divided on the outlook—with some seeing further room for gains and others cautioning that risks are rising.

Oil prices saw a modest increase as Ukrainian forces targeted Russian oil infrastructure, raising concerns over export disruptions. However, unexpected rises in U.S. crude inventories tempered market optimism, highlighting persistent demand weakness.

Silver prices fell on Wednesday, retreating from the previous session’s all-time peak, as traders turned cautious ahead of key U.S. economic reports that could influence the Federal Reserve’s policy path.

Silver surged to a new high on Monday, extending a record-breaking rally as traders bet on persistent supply tightness and rising expectations for U.S. interest-rate cuts. Gold held steady.

Oil prices edged lower during early Asian trading on Wednesday, as another rise in U.S. crude inventories intensified worries that global supply is outstripping demand.

Bitcoin's near-term upside remains constrained by persistent selling from investors sitting on losses, creating a fragile trading environment as markets enter a typically low-liquidity holiday period.

The cryptocurrency market declined on Monday, mirroring a pullback in global risk assets as investors turned cautious ahead of key U.S. economic data. The broad-based retreat highlighted thinning liquidity and growing risk aversion across financial markets as the year draws to a close.

Since their debut on November 13, U.S.-listed spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for XRP have recorded net inflows for 30 consecutive trading days, a steady performance that stands in contrast to the more volatile flows seen in larger bitcoin and ether funds.

Bitcoin retreated below the $90,000 level on Thursday, extending a broader cryptocurrency sell-off as fresh concerns over the profitability of artificial intelligence investments weighed on technology stocks and dampened investor appetite for risk.

A recent buying spree in Bitcoin lifted major alternative cryptocurrencies, but beneath the surface, Solana is showing signs of stress as liquidity evaporates and market leverage remains dangerously high.

Westpac analysts forecast the Reserve Bank of Australia will hold interest rates steady through 2026, with potential cuts now expected in early to mid-2027 due to resurging inflation and labor market concerns.

As investors remain cautious, focus turns to upcoming UK wage data and European manufacturing insights ahead of crucial interest rate discussions. Market sentiment reflects heightened risk aversion amid U.S. jobs report anticipation.

Australian CPI inflation surged to 3.8% year-on-year in October, exceeding expectations and complicating the Reserve Bank's strategy for interest rate reductions. Electricity prices significantly contributed to this increase, raising concerns about ongoing inflation pressures.

The September nonfarm payrolls report revealed strong job growth but rising unemployment, leaving investors uncertain about December rate cuts. Bank of America forecasts limited scope for further Fed easing amidst labor market shifts.

Australia’s trade surplus expanded more than anticipated in July, primarily fueled by robust export activity as demand for commodities in key Asian and European markets showed slight recovery during the month.

The Bank of Japan is expected to raise its benchmark interest rate to 0.75% on December 19, marking its first increase since early 2025, amidst ongoing inflation and a weakening yen. Analysts predict additional hikes in 2026 as the central bank navigates renewed monetary policy normalization under Governor Kazuo Ueda.

The U.S. dollar fell to multi-month lows against major currencies after the Federal Reserve’s dovish outlook and a significant rise in jobless claims. The Swiss franc gained support from steady interest rates.

The U.S. dollar remains under pressure as disappointing manufacturing data heightens expectations for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its upcoming meeting on December 10. Manufacturing PMI fell to 48.2, marking the ninth consecutive month of contraction.

The U.S. dollar is set for its most significant weekly drop in four months, driven by expectations of monetary easing and pressure to reduce interest rates. In contrast, the yen and Australian dollar gain traction amid shifting market dynamics.

Morgan Stanley forecasts a 5% drop in the dollar by mid-2026, attributed to continued Fed rate cuts. A recovery may follow as growth improves and funding currency dynamics shift favorably toward the euro and Swiss franc.

Barclays has increased its earnings and price projections for the S&P 500 through 2025 and 2026, attributing the upgrade to stronger-than-anticipated corporate results in the first half of the year and a robust earnings landscape despite trade tensions and labor challenges.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures climbed modestly on Tuesday evening, fueled by strong gains in Alphabet Inc. after a court handed down a less stringent antitrust ruling than initially feared.

Asian equities declined on Wednesday, following Wall Street's losses driven by escalating concerns over U.S. trade tariffs.

Last week, the S&P 500 continued its upward momentum despite notable shifts in market leadership.