Global Markets Navigate Fed Easing, Tech Advances, and Geopolitical Tensions

Market Overview - Global financial markets are showing mixed performance due to monetary policy shifts, tech sector developments, and geopolitical changes [2] - Gold and Japanese equities are experiencing strong upward momentum, while US stock futures have declined [2] Gold Market - Gold has achieved its fifth consecutive weekly gain, trading near record highs, driven by the Federal Reserve's 25-basis-point rate cut and expectations of further easing [3] - The precious metal is benefiting from safe-haven demand as investors await US inflation data and Fed Chair Powell's economic outlook [3] Japanese Market - Japanese stocks are performing well, with the Nikkei Index rising 1% to 45,499.10 points, following the Bank of Japan's decision to gradually sell its ETF holdings [4] - This divestment is seen as a move towards normalizing the central bank's balance sheet, contributing to market confidence [4] Technology Sector - Samsung Electronics shares increased by 3% after passing NVIDIA's qualification test for its 12-layer HBM3E products, crucial for advanced computing systems [5] - This qualification positions Samsung as a key supplier in the competitive high-bandwidth memory market, particularly for AI and graphics processing [5] US Market Concerns - US stock futures have dipped, with S&P 500 futures down 0.11% and Nasdaq futures down 0.07%, influenced by concerns over a proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee [6] - The new fee raises apprehensions in the US tech industry, which relies heavily on H-1B visa holders, potentially impacting tech hiring and the $280 billion IT sector in India [6] Regional Market Performance - Australia's S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.5% to 8,816.10, reflecting positive sentiment in the market [7] - The New Zealand Dollar fell to a two-week low of $0.5853, indicating currency weakness [8] Geopolitical Developments - Diplomatic meetings involving South Korea, the US, and Japan are scheduled to address regional and global issues during the U.N. General Assembly [8] - North Korea's Kim Jong Un reiterated the country's stance against denuclearization, emphasizing military strengthening [8]