1. Japan’s Nikkei 225 crosses 50,000 for the first time, ahead of Takaichi-Trump meeting
Japan’s Nikkei 225 breached the 50,000 mark for the first time Monday as investors cheered progress in U.S.-China trade talks and strong momentum from Wall Street. The benchmark index rose over 2%, while the Topix added 1.61%. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump this week during his visit to Japan. Across Asia, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.1% to cross 4,000 for the first time after hitting a record high on Friday, while the small-cap Kosdaq added 1.45%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.15%, while the mainland CSI 300 rose 0.83%.
2. Dow rallies 400 points for first close above 47,000 ever following mild inflation report
U.S. stocks closed at new heights on Friday as cool inflation data spurred optimism among investors that the Federal Reserve can stay on its rate-cutting path, boosting the U.S. economy and justifying higher valuations for equities. The Dow Jones Industrial average rose 472.51 points, or 1.01%, to 47,207.12, securing its first close above the 47,000 level ever. The S&P 500 added 0.79% to 6,791.69, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.15% to 23,204.87. All three major averages closed at records. The September consumer price index report — which was delayed because of the U.S. government shutdown — rose 0.3% on the month, bringing the annual inflation rate to 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s just below the 0.4% and 3.1% polled by economists.
3. Gold tumbles to near $4,050 on renewed optimism around US-China trade talks
Gold price falls to around $4,065 during the early Asian session on Monday. The precious metal extends the decline as traders book profits following a prolonged record-setting rally. The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday will be closely watched. Traders move to lock in profits since gold was trading at or near all-time highs. Also, renewed optimism about US-China trade discussions and a renewed US Dollar (USD) capped safe-haven flows to gold. Traders are also expecting another reduction in December.
4. Oil prices rise after US and China reach trade-deal framework
Oil prices rose in early trade on Monday after U.S. and Chinese economic officials sketched out a trade-deal framework, easing fears that tariffs and export curbs between the world’s top two oil consumers could dent global economic growth. Brent crude futures rose 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $66.40 a barrel by 0027 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude future es rose 46 cents, or 0.75%, to $61.96, after rising 8.9% and 7.7%, respectively, in the previous week on U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday top Chinese and U.S. economic officials hashed out a “very substantial framework” for a trade deal in Kuala Lumpur, which would allow President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping to discuss trade cooperation later this week.
5. U.S. and China officials reach consensus on rare earths, tariff pause for Trump and Xi to consider
Top Chinese and U.S. economic officials on Sunday hashed out the framework of a trade deal for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to finalize that would pause steeper American tariffs and Chinese rare earths export controls and resume U.S. soybean sales to China, U.S. officials said. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur had eliminated the threat of Trump’s 100% tariffs on Chinese imports starting November 1. Bessent said he expects China to delay implementation of its rare earth minerals and magnets licensing regime by a year while the policy is reconsidered. Chinese officials were more circumspect about the talks and offered no details about the outcome of the meetings.
7. Inflation rate hit 3.0% in September, lower than expected, long-awaited CPI report shows
Prices that people pay for a variety of goods and services rose less than expected in September, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report Friday that keeps the door wide open for another interest rate cut next week. The consumer price index showed a 0.3% increase on the month, putting the annual inflation rate at 3%. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for readings of 0.4% and 3.1%, respectively. The annual rate reflected a 0.1 percentage point uptick from August. Excluding food and energy, core CPI showed a 0.2% monthly gain and an annual rate also at 3%, compared with estimates of 0.3% and 3.1%, respectively. Core CPI on a monthly basis had posted 0.3% gains in both July and August.
8. Trump oversees truce signing and trade deal flurry on first Asian stop
U.S. President Donald Trump hit the ground running on the first leg of his Asian tour on Sunday, announcing a slew of trade agreements in Malaysia and joining the signing of an expanded truce between Thailand and Cambodia that he brokered in July. Within six hours of landing in Kuala Lumpur for the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Trump announced trade deals with four countries, met regional leaders and held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who said their teams would immediately start tariff discussions. Trump also said he was confident of hammering out a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of an expected meeting on Thursday, as top trade officials from both sides met for a second day in Kuala Lumpur and agreed on a framework for a trade agreement.
9. US, Vietnam agree to boost trade, tariffs on some Vietnamese goods may be removed
The United States and Vietnam will finalize a trade agreement in the coming weeks that will maintain 20% tariffs on most Vietnamese goods but lift duties on certain products that will be decided at a later stage, the White House said on Sunday. In return Vietnam committed to offering “preferential access” for most all U.S. goods. The two countries have agreed to a framework for the agreement on “reciprocal, fair and balanced” trade between the two nations, the countries said in a joint statement released by the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump in July announced that the United States would place a 20% tariff on many Vietnamese products, as well as a 40% levy on trans-shipments through Vietnam from third countries. U.S tariffs to fall to as low as zero on some Vietnamese products.
10. India’s market regulator blocks mutual fund pre-IPO investments
India’s market regulator has informed mutual fund managers that they cannot invest in companies before they officially list, according to a Reuters report on Friday. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) clarified that mutual funds are only permitted to make investments during the official IPO process, including early-stage anchor investments, but pre-IPO placements do not qualify as eligible investments. Pre-IPO placements involve private sales of shares to select investors before a company officially launches its listing. In India, alternative investment funds and foreign investors are typically allowed to participate in these private sales. The regulator expressed concern that if mutual funds invest in pre-IPO placements and the company ultimately fails to list, the funds would end up holding unlisted shares, according to the report.
11. Intel shares jump as investments, cost cuts catapult turnaround efforts
Intel shares surged as much as 7.8% in early trading on Friday, hitting an 18-month high, as investors rallied behind CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s aggressive cost-cutting measures that helped the chipmaker surpass quarterly profit estimates and regain stability amid a flurry of high-stakes bets on future growth. The results mark a turning point for Intel, which has struggled to maintain relevance in the face of fierce competition and manufacturing setbacks. After a bruising 2024 that saw its first annual loss in nearly four decades, the company is now leaning on strategic investments and operational discipline to rebuild investor confidence. Intel also drew support during the quarter from multi-billion-dollar investments by Nvidia and Japan’s SoftBank as well as a U.S. government stake, moves that offered a financial cushion as it works to revive growth.
12. Workers reject Boeing’s latest offer after nearly three months on strike
Striking workers at Boeing Defense in the St. Louis area rejected the company’s latest contract proposal on Sunday, sending a strike that has already delayed delivery of fighter jets and other programs into its 13th week. In a statement after the vote, union leadership said the company had failed to address the needs of the roughly 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837. “Boeing claimed they listened to their employees – the result of today’s vote proves they have not,” IAM International President Brian Bryant said in a statement. “Boeing’s corporate executives continue to insult the very people who build the world’s most advanced military aircraft – the same planes and military systems that keep our servicemembers and nation safe”.
