Author: News Room

Investing.com– Most Asian stocks rose on Friday, buoyed by strength in chipmaking and cyclical stocks, which helped markets weather heightened tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war.  Regional markets took some positive cues from Wall Street, with chipmaking stocks tracking strength in NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:), which hit a record high on Thursday.  But broader tech stocks were rattled by a sharp drop in Alphabet Inc Class A (NASDAQ:) after U.S. authorities made several recommendations to break up the firm’s alleged monopoly in online search.  U.S. stock index futures were flat in Asian trade, as risk appetite was battered by heightened tensions between…

By Laila Kearney (Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Friday after Russia said it had fired a ballistic missile at Ukraine and warned of a broadening conflict, raising the prospect of tightening crude supplies. futures gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $74.37 a barrel by 0007 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $70.27 per barrel. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the Ukraine war was growing into a global conflict after the U.S. and Britain allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with their weapons. Putin, who said Russia responded to the use…

The Japanese Yen ticks higher as stronger domestic inflation revives bets for more BoJ rate hikes. The upbeat market mood and elevated US bond yields cap the upside for the lower-yielding JPY. The USD stands firm near its highest level in over a year and offers support to the USD/JPY pair.  The Japanese Yen (JPY) attracts some buyers for the second straight day on Friday amid reviving bets for more interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BoJ), though it lacks any follow-through. Against the backdrop of BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s hawkish remarks on Thursday, slightly higher-than-expected consumer inflation…

XRP broke past $1.11, signaling momentum toward $1.5, supported by rising trading volume and market optimism. Ripple’s legal win clarified XRP is not a security, boosting investor confidence and setting regulatory precedent. Speculation over a Ripple IPO, XRP ETF, and stablecoin launch is driving increased interest and market activity. XRP has reached $1.11 after breaking through a tight consolidation pattern, signaling growing optimism in the cryptocurrency market. This development marks a potential rally toward $1.5, supported by increasing trading volume and heightened investor interest. Analysts suggest this momentum could propel XRP to new heights if market conditions remain favorable. $XRP…

Chinese Xi Jinping was unusually candid with US President Biden in their last meeting as their countries’ leaders.Xi outlined China’s “red lines” for the US, including the country’s rights to development.Beijing was setting ground rules for the incoming Trump administration and its China hawks.Chinese leader Xi Jinping is gearing up for Trump 2.0 with some ground rules for the administration’s China hawks.Last weekend, Xi met US President Joe Biden at the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru. He told Washington not to cross “four red lines” — which analysts say is a clear message for the incoming Trump…

Red Lobster recently introduced a revamped menu with no “endless shrimp.”The restaurant’s 35-year-old CEO said the company saw a sales bump after launching its new menu.The seafood chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year and exited in September.Red Lobster’s new CEO said the chain’s revamped menu — which no longer includes its infamous “endless shrimp” promotion — has already started to help turn things around at the struggling company.Damola Adamolekun, the 35-year-old business executive who became the youngest-ever Red Lobster chief in August, told Bloomberg on Wednesday that the company saw increased sales over the past weekend after…

By Lewis (JO:) Krauskopf NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks are extending their lead over global peers and some investors believe that dominance could grow if President-elect Donald Trump can implement his economic platform without becoming mired in a full-blown trade war or ballooning the federal deficit. The has gained over 24% in 2024, putting it well ahead of benchmarks in Europe, Asia and emerging markets. At 22 times expected future earnings, its premium to an MSCI index of stocks of more than 40 other countries stands at its highest in more than two decades, according to LSEG Datastream.  Though…

Investing.com– Oil prices rose in Asian trade on Friday and were headed for a positive week as increased concerns over Russia and Ukraine saw traders attach a greater risk premium to crude.  Supply disruptions in Norway and a brief pullback in the dollar had also supported oil prices earlier in the week, as did reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) was likely to postpone a planned production hike.  An increased risk premium helped oil largely look past a bigger-than-expected build in U.S. inventories. expiring in January rose 0.4% to $74.54 a barrel, while rose 0.5%…

The Australian Dollar remains solid as the PMI indicates a mixed economic picture. Judo Bank Australian manufacturing activity improved in November but remained in contraction, while services activity slipped into negative territory. The US Dollar Index reached its fresh yearly high of 107.15 after the US Initial Jobless Claims released on Thursday. The Australian Dollar (AUD) continues to strengthen against the US Dollar (USD) following the release of mixed Judo Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data from Australia on Friday. The AUD also benefits from a hawkish outlook by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) regarding future interest rate decisions. …

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is proposing a new business category for enterprises dealing with stablecoins and virtual assets. Under the new system, “intermediary” or “brokerage” businesses involved with crypto and stablecoins could face less stringent legal requirements than is currently the case, where they are forced to register as crypto exchanges. According to a Nov. 21st report from Nikkei, and video footage of a meeting, Japan’s FSA could be removing restrictions for businesses that wish to deal with stablecoins and crypto. Currently, even businesses acting as intermediaries must technically adhere to strict guidelines (according to law) and register as…