Safe-haven yen and dollar shine amid selloff in stocks; NZ dollar slides

Market Sentiment - Risk-off sentiment has been pervasive across markets, leading to a stronger USD against most currencies, with the exception of JPY [1][9] - The Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar have been particularly weak, with the latter reaching a nearly seven-month low following a rise in the unemployment rate [9][10] Currency Performance - The U.S. dollar index was steady at 100.18, having reached as high as 100.25 for the first time since August 1 [5][10] - Sterling is near a seven-month low after UK finance minister Rachel Reeves hinted at broad tax rises in her upcoming budget [1][2] - The New Zealand dollar fell to $0.5635 after a 1.2% drop on Tuesday, marking a seven-month low [7][10] Stock Market Trends - Selling pressure dominated Asian stock markets, with Japan's Nikkei dropping 2.4% and South Korea's KOSPI plunging 4.8% [4][9] Economic Indicators - The ongoing government shutdown in the U.S. has halted the flow of macroeconomic data, increasing focus on private ADP payrolls [6][10] - The Reserve Bank of Australia's recent policy statement was not perceived as hawkish, contributing to the weakness of the Australian dollar [8][10] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin experienced a 6.1% decline on Tuesday, reaching its lowest level since June 22, trading around $100,317 [8][10]