Stock Market News·2025-10-26 15:39Group 1: Citigroup's Expansion in Saudi Arabia - Citigroup Inc. has opened its regional headquarters in Riyadh, enhancing its operations in Saudi Arabia and aligning with the kingdom's economic diversification efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [2][8] - The establishment of the regional headquarters is influenced by new Saudi regulations requiring foreign firms to have a local base with at least 15 employees, which has attracted over 500 global companies to relocate to Riyadh [3][8] - Other major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Lazard, and JPMorgan, have also established a presence in Riyadh, indicating the growing appeal of the region for global finance [3][8] Group 2: Federal Reserve's Interest Rate Decisions - The Federal Reserve is expected to implement a second consecutive interest-rate cut, reducing the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75% to 4% [4][8] - This decision is driven by a weakening U.S. labor market and aims to lower borrowing costs to stimulate hiring, although inflation remains a concern at 3% [5][8] - Financial markets are pricing in a high probability of further rate cuts into 2026, but some officials express caution regarding the risks of reigniting inflationary pressures [5][8] Group 3: ASEAN-India Trade Agreement Progress - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced significant progress in the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), with a commitment to conclude the revised agreement by the end of 2025 [6][8] - The review was initiated by India due to a widening trade deficit with ASEAN, which increased from US$7.5 billion in 2011 to approximately US$44 billion in 2023 [7][8] - Bilateral trade between ASEAN and India reached USD 106.83 billion in 2024, reflecting a growth from USD 100.72 billion in 2023, highlighting the importance of this trade pact for regional stability and economic cooperation [7][9]