EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fig 1: Japan JGB Yields Breaking Higher

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg/Refinitiv.
UK
RUSSIA (BBC): “A Russian spy ship has used lasers for the first time to disrupt RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters, the defence secretary has said. John Healey told reporters the "deeply dangerous" move from the Yantar was being taken "extremely seriously" by the government.”
POLITICS (BBC): “Labour MP Clive Lewis has offered to give up his seat to allow Andy Burnham to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership. There has been ongoing speculation that Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham wants to take on Sir Keir for the top job, but he would need to be an MP to do so.”
HOUSING (TIMES): “Nearly 20 per cent of potential home movers have put their plans on hold due to possible property tax changes in the budget next week, according to research.”
EU
UKRAINE (BBC): “Senior Pentagon officials have arrived in Ukraine to "discuss efforts to end the war" with Russia, the US military has said. The team, led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Thursday when he returns from a trip to Turkey.”
EU (POLITICO): “EU foreign ministers will be briefed on Thursday about a spate of sabotage attempts and airspace incursions that Russia’s neighbors say marks a “very dangerous phase of escalation” by the Kremlin, and one that endangers civilians. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told POLITICO that the Kremlin’s shadowy campaign of subversion shows “we are reaching the hot phases of escalation.””
EU (POLITICO): “Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas sounded the alarm for Europe on Wednesday after Warsaw accused Russian-backed operatives of carrying out an explosion targeting a Polish railway. “It is clear that these kinds of attacks are an extreme danger also for our critical infrastructure,” Kallas told journalists.”
EU (POLITICO): “A fresh proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to reform digital laws on Wednesday was welcomed by lawmakers on the right but shunned on the left.”
US
FED (MNI): Federal Reserve officials offered "strongly differing views" about whether to keep cutting rates this year after deciding to reduce them at the October meeting, as policymakers balanced conflicting risks of higher inflation and weaker employment, minutes released Wednesday showed.
TECH (BBG): “ Nvidia Corp. delivered a surprisingly strong revenue forecast and pushed back on the idea that the AI industry is in a bubble, easing concerns that had spread across the tech sector.”
TECH (BBG): White House officials are urging members of Congress to reject a measure that would limit Nvidia Corp.’s ability to sell AI chips to China and other adversary nations, according to people familiar with the matter, dimming prospects for legislation opposed by the world’s most valuable company.
FED (MNI BRIEF): The Federal Reserve should interfere in financial markets as little as possible which means shrinking the balance sheet to the fullest extent it can, Fed Governor Stephen Miran said Wednesday.
OTHER
JAPAN (MNI BRIEF): Bank of Japan board member Junko Koeda said Thursday that the BOJ will continue raising its policy interest rate to adjust the degree of monetary easing in line with improvements in the economy and prices, though she gave no indication of the timing of the next move.
JAPAN (BBG): “The yen is experiencing sudden, one-way movements that are concerning and which require close monitoring, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary said. Excessive fluctuations and disorderly movements in exchange rates must be monitored with vigilance, Minoru Kihara said during a press conference on Thursday.
JAPAN (NHK/BBG): “The Japanese government is making final arrangements to compile an economic stimulus package of ~21.3t yen, public broadcaster NHK reports, citing an unidentified person.”
CANADA (MNI): Business leaders see Canada as a hard place to invest central bank deputy Nicolas Vincent said in a speech Wednesday aimed at creating dialogue about the affordability squeeze, but also pressures governments to build an economy that can grow faster without boosting inflation.
CHINA
PROPERTY (BBG): “ China is considering new measures to turn around its struggling property market, as concerns mount that a further weakening of the sector will threaten to destabilize its financial system, according to people familiar with the matter.”
LOAN PRIME RATES (MNI BRIEF): China’s Loan Prime Rate was left unchanged on Thursday, as expected, with the central bank maintaining its stance amid ongoing pressure on banks’ interest margins and confidence that the 5% annual GDP growth target remains within reach.
CHINA/JAPAN (YICAI): “Chinese travellers have cancelled more than 500,000 flight tickets to Japan, with passengers sharply down for three consecutive days, as geopolitical tensions between the two countries intensify, according to Yicai.”
MNI: PBOC Net Injects CNY110 Bln via OMO Thursday
MNI (BEIJING) - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) conducted CNY300 billion via 7-day reverse repos, with the rate unchanged at 1.40%. The operation led to a net injection of CNY110 billion after offsetting maturities of CNY190 billion today, according to Wind Information
The seven-day weighted average interbank repo rate for depository institutions (DR007) fell to 1.4091% at 09:41 am local time from the close of 1.5131% on Wednesday.
MNI: PBOC Sets Yuan Parity Higher At 7.0905 Thurs; +1.96% Y/Y
MNI (BEIJING) - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the dollar-yuan central parity rate higher at 7.0905 on Thursday, compared with 7.0872 set on Wednesday. The fixing was estimated at 7.1228 by Bloomberg survey today.
MARKET DATA
CHINA OCT. SHARE OF SWIFT GLOBAL PAYMENTS 2.47%; SEP. 3.17%
MARKETS
US TSYS: Labour Data Tonight Last Chance for Rate Cuts
Whilst the ultra long end was broadly flat on the day, elsewhere on the curve saw yields higher by up to +1.5bps as rate expectations continue to re-price. Fed meeting expectations re-priced further: Dec'25 at -6bp (-7bps at open), Jan'26 at -20.1bp, Mar'26 at -0.29bps (-30.3bp), Apr'26 at -36.6 (-38.1bp).
Key focus for issuance tonight will be 4-week and 8-week bills and a 10-Yr TIPS auction.
JGBS: Yields Explode Higher As Fiscal Fears Drive Positioning Change
JGB futures are trading sharply weaker at 134.99, -62 compared to settlement levels, albeit well above the session low of 134.56. (see chart)

Source: Bloomberg Finance LP
AUSSIE BONDS: Trading Heavy As RBA Research Suggests Prolonged Pause
ACGBs (YM -5.0 & XM -5.0) are weaker and at/near session lows.

Bloomberg Finance LP
BONDS: NZGBS: Bear-Steepener, NZ-US 10Y Diff Looks Too Low
NZGBs closed showing a bear-steepener, with benchmark yields flat to 4bps higher.
Figure 1: NZ-US 10-Year Yield Differential

Source: Bloomberg Finance LP / MNI
JPY: USD/JPY - Building On Gains Above 157.00
The USD/JPY range today has been 156.88 - 157.47 in the Asia-Pac session, it is currently trading around 157.35, +0.15%. The pair continued to extend higher in our session as dips remain well supported. This price action will certainly worry officials as this acceleration above 155 looks ominous and on track for a very quick test of the 160 highs seen in 2024. Japan is in a tough bind, they want to provide a significant stimulus package to boost the economy, they want to cap bond yields and they also do not want USD/JPY to explode higher. Some would say that is an impossible task and they will have to let something go, the easiest lever to pull back on is the Yen. This will not make the US happy but it's a far easier and palatable outcome than bond yields getting out of control. I suspect they will have to show some sign of fighting this above 160, but given the current inputs this could potentially go a lot higher than that.
Fig 1 : USD/JPY Spot Weekly Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
FOREX: USD - BBDXY Consolidates Overnight Gains
The BBDXY has had a range today of 1224.32 - 1226.47 in the Asia-Pac session; it is currently trading around 1225, +0.05%. The USD has grinded higher in our session trying to build on its overnight gains. The break back above 1221-1222 saw the USD accelerate higher and is now looking to challenge the pivotal 1230-40 area. On the day I would now be looking for dips toward 1222-1224 to be supported as the market tries to build a base from which to extend higher.
Fig 1: GBP/USD Spot Weekly Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
AUD/USD - Drifts Higher With Risk
The AUD/USD has had a range today of 0.6474 - 0.6491 in the Asia- Pac session, it is currently trading around 0.6485, +0.10%. The AUD/USD has drifted higher in our session thanks to the gains for global risk provided by the strong Nvidia earnings. The AUD/USD continues to chop around within its wider 0.6350-0.6650 range, the first support is right here around 0.6440-0.6460 which has been pretty solid the last couple of months, then 0.6350 below that. It would need this move lower in risk to accelerate and become something more significant to challenge down there I would think. The AUD would need to move back above the 0.6530 area for the direction to change, until then suspect we see offers above 0.6500 initially.
Fig 1: AUD/USD spot Daily Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
NZD/USD - Grinds Back Above 0.5600 As Risk Surges Higher
The NZD/USD had a range today of 0.5595 - 0.5615 in the Asia-Pac session, going into the London open trading around 0.5610, +0.15%. The NZD/USD has tried to push higher but the move has been very underwhelming considering the move in risk, perhaps the relief rally arrives when London comes in. The next target is the pivotal 0.5500 area which has been very strong support in the past. On the day look for rallies back toward 0.5635-0.5655 to find sellers initially if we do get a bounce.
Fig 1: NZD/USD Spot Weekly Chart

Source: MNI - Market News/Bloomberg Finance L.P
ASIA STOCKS: Tech Stocks Boosted by Nvidia, US Rate Outlook Concerns Remain
Nvidia's stronger earnings gave those tech heavy bourses a boost today, bouncing back from several days of caution. For those markets less tech-led the overnight softening of expectations for US rate cuts, the mood was less buoyant and will watch carefully for the key data release tonight on US labour markets. Korea, Japan and Taiwan led the way today with some individual stocks delivering strong daily returns.
OIL: Crude Slightly Higher As Watching Russia Events, New Sanctions From Friday
Oil prices are slightly higher in today’s APAC session but have been moving in a very narrow range as they wait for key US economic data and any further developments on a Ukraine-Russia deal after reports of a new US peace plan. WTI is up 0.2% to $59.58/bbl off the intraday high at $59.81 and Brent is 0.3% higher at $63.69/bbl after peaking at $63.83.
Gold Steady As Fed Cut Pricing Down & US$ Up, Sept Payrolls Out Later
Gold prices are slightly lower in Thursday’s APAC trading following the October FOMC minutes showing “strongly differing views” as a result pricing for a December rate cut fell substantially and the US dollar rose, both usually negatives for non-yield bearing bullion. The US dollar is slightly higher again today and risk appetite stronger following Nvidia’s results. Gold will be monitoring US data closely, especially today’s September payrolls, as delayed releases are published.
UP TODAY (TIMES GMT/LOCAL)
| Date | GMT/Local | Impact | Country | Event |
| 20/11/2025 | 0700/0800 | ** | PPI | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1000/1100 | ** | EZ Construction Output | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1100/1100 | ** | CBI Industrial Trends | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Jobless Claims | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | ** | WASDE Weekly Import/Export | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | * | Industrial Product and Raw Material Price Index | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | ** | Philadelphia Fed Nonmanufacturing Index | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | *** | Employment Report | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1345/0845 | Cleveland Fed's Beth Hammack | ||
| 20/11/2025 | 1430/0930 | Fed Governor Michael Barr | ||
| 20/11/2025 | 1500/1000 | *** | NAR existing home sales | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1500/1000 | * | Services Revenues | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1500/1600 | ** | Consumer Confidence Indicator (p) | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1530/1030 | ** | Natural Gas Stocks | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1600/1100 | ** | Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Index | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1600/1100 | Fed Governor Lisa Cook | ||
| 20/11/2025 | 1630/1130 | ** | US Bill 04 Week Treasury Auction Result | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1630/1130 | * | US Bill 08 Week Treasury Auction Result | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1740/1240 | Chicago Fed's Austan Goolsbee | ||
| 20/11/2025 | 1800/1300 | ** | US Treasury Auction Result for TIPS 10 Year Note | |
| 20/11/2025 | 1830/1830 | BOE Dhingra Speech on Trade and Tariffs | ||
| 20/11/2025 | 2100/2100 | BOE Mann at IMF Statistical Forum | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 2200/0900 | *** | Judo Bank Flash Australia PMI | |
| 20/11/2025 | 2315/1815 | Fed Governor Stephen Miran | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 2330/0830 | *** | CPI | |
| 20/11/2025 | 2345/1845 | Philly Fed's Anna Paulson | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 0001/0001 | ** | Gfk Monthly Consumer Confidence | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0030/0930 | ** | Jibun Bank Flash Japan PMI | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0700/0700 | *** | Public Sector Finances | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0700/0700 | *** | Retail Sales | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0745/0845 | ** | Manufacturing Sentiment | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0800/0900 | ECB de Guindos Remarks/Q&A at Foro Gran Via | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 0815/0915 | ** | S&P Global Services PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0815/0915 | ** | S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0830/0930 | ** | S&P Global Services PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0830/0930 | ** | S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0830/0930 | ECB Lagarde Speech at European Banking Congress | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 0900/1000 | ** | S&P Global Services PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0900/1000 | ** | S&P Global Manufacturing PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0900/1000 | ** | S&P Global Composite PMI (p) | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0930/0930 | *** | S&P Global Manufacturing PMI flash | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0930/0930 | *** | S&P Global Services PMI flash | |
| 21/11/2025 | 0930/0930 | *** | S&P Global Composite PMI flash | |
| 21/11/2025 | 1000/1100 | Negotiated Wage Growth | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 1130/1230 | ECB de Guindos Remarks/Q&A at Deusto Business School | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 1230/0730 | New York Fed's John Williams | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | ** | Retail Trade | |
| 21/11/2025 | 1330/0830 | Fed Governor Michael Barr | ||
| 21/11/2025 | 1345/0845 | Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson |