Asian stocks have cautious start, Bitcoin in focus

Economic Overview - Japan's economy contracted for the first time in six quarters, leading to a decline in Japanese and Australian equities, while South Korean equities rose [1][9] - US equity-index futures showed a slight increase amid cautious investor sentiment as they await key economic indicators, including employment figures [2][9] Market Sentiment - Investors are navigating mixed risks, including stretched valuations in AI-related stocks and renewed tensions between China and Japan, contributing to a fading risk appetite [2][9] - November has been characterized by volatility in share markets, with concerns about potential corrections due to stretched valuations and a softening US jobs market [2][9] Federal Reserve Outlook - A number of Federal Reserve officials have expressed skepticism regarding the necessity of a rate cut in December, with futures traders reducing the odds of a quarter-point cut below 50% [5][9] - The uncertainty surrounding interest rate cuts has led to an increase in expected bond-market volatility, which had previously been at a four-year low [5][9] Employment Data Expectations - Analysts expect the upcoming non-farm payrolls report for September to underperform expectations of a 50,000 increase, indicating potential weakness in the labor market [6][9] Commodity Market Trends - Oil prices started the week lower, while gold prices increased, with gold having risen over 50% this year, on track for its best annual gain since 1979 [6][9] - Gold was trading around $4,100 an ounce, having lost more than 2% in the previous session, as expectations for a rate cut diminished [7][9] Cryptocurrency Market - Bitcoin has erased over 30% of its gains since the start of the year, following a peak just over a month ago, as enthusiasm for the pro-crypto stance of the Trump administration wanes [8][9]