S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe Australian dollar traded around $0.664, hovering close to its highest level in nearly three months, supported by the Reserve Bank’s hawkish monetary policy outlook. The central bank held cash rates steady as widely expected at its December meeting, while Governor Michele Bullock took markets by surprise with a sharply hawkish shift on rates by ruling out further cuts and signaling the possibility of rate hikes as soon as February if inflation fails to ease. Still, the RBA later emphasized that there is no preset policy path, with future adjustments depending on the inflation outlook. Markets quickly priced in a 30% chance of a 25 bps hike at the RBA’s February meeting, rising to nearly 100% by May. Rising local bond yields also drew carry traders, adding further upside to the currency. Investors are now focused on Australia’s November jobs data due Thursday, while globally, markets await the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision later today, with expectations for a 25 bps cut.
