Asian markets mostly advance after the S&P 500 hits record high

Economic Growth and Market Performance - The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 4.3% in the third quarter, exceeding expectations, following a 3.8% growth rate in the second quarter [1][2] - The S&P 500 closed at a record high of 6,909.79, driven by gains in tech stocks, despite most stocks in the index declining [5] - Asian markets mostly advanced, with Japan's Nikkei 225 unchanged at 50,411.10, South Korea's Kospi slipping 0.1% to 4,113.83, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gaining 0.2% to 25,818.93 [3][1] Inflation and Consumer Confidence - Inflation remains high, with the personal consumption expenditures index (PCE) rising to a 2.8% annual pace in the last quarter, up from 2.1% in the previous quarter [6] - Consumer confidence has faded further in December, indicating potential concerns among consumers regarding high prices [2][7] Commodity Prices - Gold prices rose 0.4% to $4,525.50 per ounce, contributing to a 70% increase for the year, while silver increased by 1.8% [4] - Oil prices saw a slight increase, with U.S. benchmark crude oil rising to $58.45 per barrel and Brent crude to $61.90 per barrel, amid concerns over supply disruptions in Venezuela and Russia [9] Currency Movements - The U.S. dollar fell against the Japanese yen, trading at 155.96 yen, down from 156.17 yen, as officials indicated potential intervention in the currency market [7] - The euro slipped to $1.1793 from $1.1796 [8]