China is widely expected to leave its benchmark lending rates unchanged on Friday, a Reuters poll showed, as falling yields, shrinking net interest margins and a weakening yuan create limits for immediate monetary easing.
The dollar flirted with a two-year peak on Thursday after the Federal Reserve signalled a slower pace of rate cuts in 2025, while the yen slid after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) stood pat on rates and offered few clues on its monetary outlook.
Gold prices rebounded from a one-month low on Thursday as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates as expected, although the central bank’s hawkish stance on future rate cuts clouded the outlook for bullion.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency had hit an all-time high of $108,244.9 on Tuesday after incoming President Donald Trump further raised the prospect of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve last week.
Asian stocks slipped and the dollar was perched near a two-year high on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve cautioned it would temper the pace of rate cuts next year, while the yen dipped after the Bank of Japan kept rates steady.
Australia’s government on Wednesday trimmed its likely budget deficit for the current fiscal year, but flagged bigger shortfalls ahead due to “unavoidable spending” on health, cost-of-living relief and veterans care.
The U.S. dollar held firm on Wednesday as investors waited to see whether the Federal Reserve will deliver a hawkish cut ahead of other major central bank meetings this week, pushing the Australian and New Zealand dollars to fresh lows.
Oil prices edged higher on Wednesday as investors remained cautious ahead of an expected interest rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve, while weighing up the potential supply impact of tighter sanctions on Russia.
The largest cryptocurrency reached an all-time high of $108,244 for a brief period on Tuesday. This came after incoming President Donald Trump raised the prospect of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, during an interview with CNBC last week.
Song, who became Gigafactory Shanghai’s manager in 2018, informed Tesla employees that Wednesday would be his last day, according to the note seen by Reuters. The Shanghai plant is Tesla’s largest factory by output and also exports to Europe and Southeast Asia.
