The Bank of Thailand unexpectedly lowered its key interest rate and signaled that its easing cycle could soon draw to a close if the economic recovery gains sufficient momentum. Stocks rose while the baht erased earlier gains.
Asian stocks rose on Thursday, with Japanese shares hitting a record high as markets priced out expectations of more interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan, while upbeat earnings from Nvidia sparked a rally in South Korean chipmakers.
The U.S. tariff rate for some countries will rise to 15% or higher from the newly imposed 10%, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday, without naming any specific trading partners or giving further details.
OPEC+ meets on Sunday to set its next production move amid heightened geopolitical friction affecting nearly a third of its output. That volatility may give the group cover to stick to its balanced-market narrative, even if the facts on the ground suggest otherwise.
Oil prices were largely steady in Asian trading on Thursday as markets braced for the third round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks later in the day, a pivotal event for the near-term trajectory.
Most Asian stocks advanced on Wednesday with Japanese and South Korean shares rallying to record highs on strength in technology stocks.