Market Overview - Risk assets experienced significant volatility, with equities initially rising despite a U.S. government shutdown, only to decline sharply after President Trump's announcement of 100% tariff hikes on Chinese imports, resulting in the worst weekly loss for major indices since late May, with the Dow Jones dropping as much as 2.7% [1] - The dollar strengthened broadly due to safe-haven demand and a lack of U.S. data, which typically suppresses volatility [2] - Precious metals, particularly gold, saw a notable increase, surpassing $4,000 per ounce after previously clearing $3,000 earlier in the year [2] Currency Movements - The Japanese yen initially weakened as USD/JPY surged over 2% to 150.47, influenced by Japan's ruling LDP selecting a leader aligned with Abenomics-style policies, but later strengthened as equities declined [3][4] - The euro faced pressure against the dollar and pound amid political instability in France, with the US Dollar Index rising to 98.11 [4] Currency Pairs in Focus - GBP/AUD broke a long-term downtrend, rising sharply against the AUD and surpassing resistance at 2.05250, indicating potential for further bullish movement [5][7] - The Singapore dollar reached its highest point against the yen year-to-date, with a pullback observed towards former resistance at 116.280, which could present a buying opportunity if it holds as support [8][10] Upcoming Events - The upcoming earnings season is anticipated to provide market orientation, with major banks set to report Q3 results, while the ongoing government shutdown may delay macroeconomic updates [11][12] - Market participants will closely monitor trade war developments and central bank updates, with several speeches scheduled throughout the week [12]

Market Overview - Global markets ended the week higher, with Wall Street overcoming the U.S. government shutdown and the S&P 500 surpassing 6,700 for the first time, marking a five-month winning streak with a rise of approximately 3.5% for the week and over 14% year-to-date [1] Currency Market Dynamics - The dollar experienced its worst week since July, declining 0.1% on the DXY index to 97.69, influenced by shutdown uncertainty [2] - The euro strengthened by 0.2% to $1.1743, and sterling rose 0.3% to $1.3479, benefiting from softer U.S. data and diminishing dollar momentum [2] - The Swiss franc gained with USD/CHF down 0.4% for the week, while the yen remained volatile amid speculation regarding the Bank of Japan's next moves [2] Economic Data and Government Shutdown - The U.S. government shutdown, which began at midnight Wednesday, halted operations at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and canceled the nonfarm payrolls report, leaving traders to rely on alternative indicators like ADP employment and job-cut figures [3] - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that GDP growth could face a temporary setback, but investors remained largely unfazed [4] Federal Reserve Outlook - The absence of official data complicates the Federal Reserve's decision-making ahead of its meeting on October 28-29, where markets anticipate two more rate cuts by year-end [4] - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's upcoming remarks at a banking conference may provide insights into the central bank's next steps, especially in light of the lack of data [11] Upcoming Events - The week ahead includes the release of the Federal Reserve's latest Meeting Minutes and a vote by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on a 25bps interest rate cut, potentially lowering the rate to 2.75% [10]