IC Markets Global – Asia Fundamental Forecast | 12 December 2025

IC Markets Global – Asia Fundamental Forecast | 12 December 2025

What happened in the U.S. session?

markets largely traded the aftershocks of the Federal Reserve’s 25 bp rate cut and cautious guidance, alongside a better‑than‑expected narrowing in the U.S. trade deficit. Equities led the risk rally, with the Dow and S&P 500 at or near record territory, while Treasuries rallied and the dollar softened as investors leaned into a lower‑for‑longer rate profile. Precious metals, particularly silver, stayed firm on the back of weaker yields and a softer dollar, whereas crude oil eased as growth and demand concerns offset supply‑side tension.

What does it mean for the Asia Session?

Asian traders face a session shaped by a fresh US equity record and a dovish Fed cut, which have lifted regional futures and weakened the dollar, but with some caution emerging around expensive tech names and the durability of the risk rally. Focus in Asia will fall on Japan’s industrial output and utilisation data, China’s November credit and money statistics, and any Fed commentary that could refine market pricing for 2026 cuts, all set against ongoing concerns about Chinese growth, property‑sector strains, and uneven global expansion.

The Dollar Index (DXY)

Key news events today

President Trump Speaks (11:15 am GMT)

What can we expect from DXY today?

Friday opens with a softer U.S. dollar, as the Dollar Index hovers in the high‑98s after sliding on a dovish Fed rate cut and the announcement of new Treasury‑bill purchases that pulled U.S. yields down. Major counterparts such as the euro and pound have benefited from this shift, while dollar gains against the yen have paused near resistance as investors look ahead to potential Bank of Japan tightening. With the dollar down about 8–9% over the past year and analysts expecting further gradual slippage as yield gaps narrow, markets are treating the current weakness as part of a broader late‑cycle downtrend rather than a one‑day move.​

Central Bank Notes:

• The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is widely expected to lower the federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.50%–3.75% at its December 9–10, 2025, meeting, marking the third consecutive cut after the October reduction to 3.75%–4.00%
• The Committee continues to pursue maximum employment and 2% inflation goals, with the labor market showing further softening as the unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in September 2025 amid modest job gains.
• Officials note persistent downside risks to growth alongside resilient activity, with inflation easing to 3.0% year-over-year CPI in September but remaining elevated due to tariff effects; core PCE stands at around 2.8% as of October.
• Economic activity grew at a 3.8% annualized pace in Q2 2025 per revised estimates, though Q3 and Q4 face headwinds from trade tensions, fiscal restraint, and data disruptions like the government shutdown.
• September’s Summary of Economic Projections forecasts 2025 unemployment at a median 4.5%, with PCE inflation near 3.0% and core PCE at 3.1%, signaling a gradual disinflation path; updates expected on December 10 may adjust for higher unemployment and lower growth.
• The Committee maintained its data-dependent approach, noting a softening labor market and inflation above the 2% target, while deciding to lower the federal funds rate target range by 25 basis points to 3.50%-3.75%. Dissent persisted, with multiple members opposing the cut or advocating for a hold, reflecting divisions similar to recent meetings.​
• The FOMC confirmed the conclusion of its quantitative tightening program effective December 1, 2025, with Treasury rolloff caps at $5 billion per month and agency MBS caps at $35 billion per month to ensure ample reserves and market stability.
• The next meeting is scheduled for 27 to 28 January 2026.

Next 24 Hours Bias

Medium Bearish 

Gold (XAU)

Key news events today

President Trump Speaks (11:15 am GMT)

What can we expect from Gold today?

Gold is trading just below record territory today, consolidating in the low‑$4,200s per ounce after a powerful rally fueled by expectations of a December U.S. rate cut, a weaker dollar, and persistent safe‑haven demand. Analysts describe the broader trend as bullish but stretched, with some calling for a short‑term correction toward lower support before any renewed push to fresh highs. Local retail prices in major markets such as India and rupee‑quoted U.S. rates continue to edge higher in line with international benchmarks, highlighting that gold remains a favored hedge as investors navigate uncertain monetary policy and geopolitical risks.

Next 24 Hours Bias
Strong Bullish

The Australian Dollar (AUD)

Key news events today

No major news event

What can we expect from AUD today?

Today, the Australian dollar is consolidating near the mid‑0.66 level against the US dollar, slightly below a recent three‑month high but still notably stronger than at the start of December. Support comes from a hawkish RBA that has kept rates at 3.60% and signalled ongoing concern about inflation, while a softer US dollar and improved risk appetite also underpin the currency. However, weaker Australian employment data and lingering worries about global growth, particularly in China, are tempering upside momentum and leaving AUD/USD sensitive to incoming economic news.​

Central Bank Notes:

• The Reserve Bank of Australia held its cash rate steady at 3.60% at the November 2025 policy meeting, adopting a cautious tone amid a surprise uptick in inflation data for the September quarter. This marks the fourth consecutive pause since the 25 basis point cut in August. The Board attributed some of the inflation rise to temporary factors like higher petrol prices and council rates, but noted signs of more persistent pressures from consumer demand.​
• Policymakers emphasized vigilance on inflation, with trimmed mean inflation expected to remain elevated in the near term before nearing the 2–3% target midpoint by mid-2027. Recent data showed underlying inflation staying above target until at least the second half of 2026, prompting upward revisions to forecasts. Capacity pressures are seen as slightly more pronounced than previously assessed, delaying any easing.
• Headline CPI for the September quarter exceeded expectations, driven partly by temporary items, while underlying measures signal ongoing stickiness. The shift to monthly CPI reporting, with the first full edition in November 2025, will enhance real-time inflation monitoring. Housing and services remain resilient contributors to price pressures.
• Domestic demand shows firmness in services alongside below-trend growth elsewhere, with capacity pressures not expected to ease significantly. The labor market is gradually softening, with unemployment projected to stabilize around 4.4%, though wage growth and productivity dynamics keep unit labor costs a concern. Household spending faces headwinds from high borrowing costs.​
• Global risks include geopolitical tensions and commodity volatility, set against modestly revised-up world growth outlooks. The Board describes its policy as mildly restrictive and data-dependent, balancing inflation control with employment goals. No rate hike was considered despite the inflation surprise.
• Monetary policy remains mildly restrictive to address lingering price stability risks amid household and global vulnerabilities. Communications reaffirm the dual mandate of 2–3% inflation and full employment, with readiness to adjust based on incoming data.​
• Market expectations point to the cash rate holding through early 2026, with a possible modest cut to 3.3% mid-year if inflation eases as forecast. The new monthly CPI data will be key for timely insights.
• Monetary policy remains mildly restrictive, balancing progress on price stability against vulnerabilities in household demand and global outlook. Board communications reaffirm a dual mandate: price stability and full employment, while underscoring readiness to respond should risks materialize sharply.
• Analysts generally expect the cash rate to remain at current levels through early 2026, with only modest cuts possible later in the year if inflation moderates. The new monthly CPI release (first full edition Nov 2025) will be watched closely for timely signals on price trends.
• The next meeting is on 2 to 3 February 2026.

Next 24 Hours Bias

Medium Bullish

The Kiwi Dollar (NZD)

Key news events today

No major news event

What can we expect from NZD today?

The New Zealand dollar is trading close to 0.58–0.5830 against the US dollar, near its highest levels in several weeks, as recent Fed easing and a softer US dollar combine with expectations that the RBNZ is nearing the end of its rate‑cutting cycle. Technical analysts view the 0.58 area as a key resistance and inflection zone, with the kiwi having gained around 2–2.5% over the past month and holding firm despite periods of risk‑off sentiment. Attention today is on New Zealand’s Q3 GDP release and whether NZD/USD can consolidate above the 0.58 mark, as the data and price action will shape expectations for both domestic monetary policy and the near‑term trajectory of the currency.

Central Bank Notes:

• The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.25% at its 26 November 2025 meeting, following the widely anticipated 25-basis-point reduction from 2.50%, and signaled that policy is now firmly in stimulatory territory while keeping the option of further easing on the table if needed.
• The decision was again reached by consensus, with members judging that the cumulative 325 basis points of easing over the past year warranted a period of assessment, even as several emphasized a willingness to cut further should incoming data point to a more protracted downturn or renewed disinflationary pressures.
• Headline consumer price inflation is projected to hover near 3% in late 2025 before gradually easing toward the 2% midpoint of the 1–3% target band through 2026, supported by contained inflation expectations around 2.3% over the two-year horizon and an expected pickup in spare capacity.
• The MPC noted that domestic demand remains subdued but shows tentative signs of stabilisation, with softer household spending and construction only partially offset by improving services activity; nevertheless, policymakers still expect services inflation to ease as wage growth moderates and the labour market loosens further over the coming year.
• Financial conditions continue to ease as wholesale and retail borrowing rates reprice to the lower OCR, contributing to gradually rising mortgage approvals and improving housing-related sentiment, although broader business credit growth remains patchy and sensitive to uncertainty about the durability of the recovery.
• Recent data confirm that GDP momentum is weak but not deteriorating as sharply as earlier in 2025, with high-frequency indicators pointing to a shallow recovery from a low base and ongoing headwinds from elevated living costs and fragile confidence weighing on discretionary consumption and investment.
• The MPC reiterated that external risks remain skewed to the downside, particularly from softer Chinese demand and uncertainty around United States trade policy, but noted that a lower New Zealand dollar continues to provide some offset via improved export competitiveness and support for tradables inflation.
• Looking ahead to early 2026, the Committee maintained a mild easing bias, indicating that a further cut toward 2.00–2.10% cannot be ruled out if activity fails to gain traction or if inflation undershoots projections, but current forecasts envisage the OCR remaining near 2.25% for an extended period provided inflation converges toward target and the recovery proceeds broadly as expected.
• The next meeting is on 18 February 2026.

Next 24 Hours Bias

Medium Bullish

The Japanese Yen (JPY)

Key news events today

No major news event

What can we expect from JPY today?

The Japanese yen is slightly stronger on the day, with USD/JPY hovering in the mid‑155s as the dollar retreats after Fed rate cuts and traders increasingly price in a BoJ hike to 0.75% next week. However, the currency remains structurally weak by historical standards due to Japan’s low interest rates, fiscal concerns, and earlier depreciation, even as record softness against the yuan and persistent above‑target domestic inflation keep attention on how far and how fast the BoJ will tighten from here.

Central Bank Notes:

• The Policy Board of the Bank of Japan met on 30–31 October and, by a clear majority vote, decided to maintain its key monetary policy approach for the upcoming period.
• The BOJ will continue to encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.5%, in line with the prior stance.
• The gradual quarterly reduction in monthly outright purchases of Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) remains intact, with amounts unchanged from the previous schedule. Purchases are set to decrease by about ¥400 billion per quarter through March 2026, shifting to about ¥200 billion per quarter from April to June 2026, and targeting a ¥2 trillion purchase level for Q1 2027. The bank reaffirmed its intention to maintain flexibility, with readiness to respond if market conditions warrant an adjustment.
• Japan’s economy continues to show moderate recovery, primarily led by solid capital expenditures, although export growth and corporate activity remain restrained by external demand uncertainty and the ongoing effects of U.S. trade policies.
• Annual headline inflation (excluding fresh food) accelerated to 2.9% year-on-year in September, marking the first uptick in four months and staying above the BOJ’s 2% target. Broad-based inflation persists, with food and energy cost pressures, but wage growth continues to support household consumption. Input cost pressures from the earlier surge in imports eased slightly.
• Short-term inflation momentum could moderate as food-price hikes ease, though rent, healthcare, and service-sector price increases tied to labor shortages provide support. Firms and households maintain a gradual upward drift in inflation expectations.
• For the near term, BOJ projects growth below trend as external demand stays subdued and corporate investment plans remain cautious. Still, accommodative financial conditions and steady gains in real labor income will underpin domestic consumption.
• Over the medium term, as overseas economies recover and trade conditions normalize, Japan’s growth potential should improve. Persistent labor market tightness, higher wage settlements, and rising medium- to long-term inflation expectations are expected to keep core inflation on a gradual upward trajectory, converging toward the 2% price stability target later in the forecast horizon.
• The next meeting is scheduled for 18 to 19 December 2025.

Next 24 Hours Bias

Medium Bearish

Oil

Key news events today

No major news event

What can we expect from Oil today?

Oil is trading in the high‑$50s to low‑$60s per barrel range on Friday with a slightly firmer tone after recent declines, as traders weigh strong non‑OPEC production and fears of a 2026 glut against OPEC+’s steady demand outlook and ongoing supply risks linked to Venezuela, Russia, and Ukraine‑related tensions.

Next 24 Hours Bias
Medium Bearish

The post IC Markets Global – Asia Fundamental Forecast | 12 December 2025 first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.