Friday 21th November 2025: Asian Markets Tumble as Rate Cut Hopes Fade and Tech Sell-Off Deepens

Global Markets:

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei down -2.17%, Shanghai Composite down -1.88%, Hang Seng down -2.16% ASX down -1.40%
• Commodities : Gold at $4,055.56 (-0.09%), Silver at $94.530 (-1.55%), Brent Oil at $62.58 (-1.26%), WTI Oil at $58.18 (-1.39%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.094, UK 10-year yield at 4.5890, Germany 10-year yield at 2.7194

News & Data:

• (USD) Non-Farm Employment Change  119K  to 53K expected
• (USD) Unemployment Rate  4.4%  to 4.3% expected

Markets Update:

Asian stock markets are sharply lower on Friday, tracking the negative cues from Wall Street as investors dial back expectations for a U.S. Fed rate cut in December. The long-delayed September jobs report showed higher unemployment alongside stronger-than-expected job growth, prompting fresh concerns about inflation and monetary policy. Fears of an AI-driven valuation bubble also continue to weigh on sentiment. This follows a mostly higher finish for Asian markets on Thursday.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 has reversed the prior session’s gains and is trading well below 8,450, dragged down by broad weakness in mining, energy and technology stocks. Major miners such as BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue are all sharply lower, while tech names like Block and Zip are also under pressure. Banks and gold miners are seeing notable declines as well. Shares of Accent Group and Lovisa are tumbling after disappointing updates. Economic data was more upbeat, with Australia’s services and manufacturing PMIs improving in November.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 is also sharply lower, falling more than 2 percent as heavyweight tech stocks slump. SoftBank and Advantest are among the biggest laggards, while automakers Toyota and Honda are posting modest gains. Inflation data for October met expectations, while the country’s trade deficit narrowed slightly.

Elsewhere, markets in South Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong are firmly lower, while Wall Street ended Thursday deep in the red as major U.S. indices reversed early gains and finished near session lows.

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The post Friday 21th November 2025: Asian Markets Tumble as Rate Cut Hopes Fade and Tech Sell-Off Deepens first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.