Asian Stocks Pause as U.S. Cuts Interest Rates

Asian stocks paused on Monday after global equities surged, anticipating U.S. interest rate cuts amid cooling inflation. Gold reached $2,500 an ounce and the dollar weakened against the euro. Federal Reserve members signaled easing, while futures indicate a potential quarter-point move, boosting market optimism.

On Monday, Asian stocks took a breather following a remarkable rally in global equities, driven by expectations of reduced U.S. interest rates due to cooling inflation. This shift saw gold prices soar to $2,500 an ounce and the dollar weaken against the euro.

Federal Reserve members Mary Daly and Austan Goolsbee hinted over the weekend at potential easing in September. The minutes from the latest policy meeting, set to be released this week, are expected to support this dovish outlook. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is slated to speak in Jackson Hole on Friday, with investors betting on him acknowledging the case for a rate cut.

While it might be premature to declare victory over inflation, which has fueled policy debates since the pandemic, Barclays economist Christian Keller noted that current trends indicate it is moving towards the 2% target. This optimistic outlook has bolstered S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures, while European and Asian markets also showed minor gains.

(With inputs from agencies.)