Goal To Triple Nuclear Power Needs US And Europe To Match China

Economic

Political

Summary:

A global pledge to triple nuclear power capacity by 2050 has drawn support from two more nations, meaning 33 countries now back efforts to expand the world's fleet of atomic plants.

Senegal and Rwanda signed up to the goal Friday during the COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil, as the World Nuclear Association said its latest assessment indicates the target to install about 1,200 gigawatts by mid-century is now achievable — if countries fully implement their promises.

"The path to tripling nuclear capacity is open, but it demands bold, pragmatic and visionary leadership," Sama Bilbao y León, the association's director general, said in a speech at the UN talks. "Governments must act now."

While there are dozens of reactors under construction, other forecasts suggest the world will struggle to meet the ambition agreed during COP28 in Dubai to triple the nuclear fleet from 2020 levels by mid-century. Capacity is forecast to rise to as much as 992 gigawatts by that date under a high-growth scenario, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a September report.

To have any chance of achieving the nuclear target, nations will need to follow the lead of a country that so far isn't a signatory to the pledge: China.

Asia's top economy, and the world's biggest polluter, has roughly 30 reactors under development and in April approved a 200 billion yuan ($28 billion) program to add a further 10. In comparison, the US — the world's largest nuclear generator — has connected three new commercial reactors in the last two decades.

"The world is not on pace because the West is not on pace," said Mark Nelson, chief of staff at The Nuclear Company, a US-based firm focused on deployment of the technology.

China's bewildering pace of development is on display in the southeastern Fujian province, where the country's newest nuclear plant — the Zhangzhou facility — was completed in five years across a vast sweep of Dongshan Bay. A first reactor began producing power in 2024 and another will follow later this year. Two more are already under construction, with an additional pair also planned.

Construction projects in other parts of the world have typically struggled to stick to deadlines or stay within budget.

In the US, two reactors at the Vogtle plant in Georgia were seven years late and more than double an original budget. Two reactors at the Hinkley Point C project in the UK are now years behind schedule and expected to cost billions of pounds more than planned.

Improving the industry's recent record outside China is seen as crucial, as the AI boom and industrialization in developing economies pushes electricity demand growth to its fastest rate in years — bolstering the case for more nuclear capacity. Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. are among firms to have struck recent deals for US electricity supply from existing or revived nuclear plants.

The scale of China's buildout has aided its success, allowing the nation's nuclear industry to drive down material costs, expand its specialist workforce, standardize supply chains and refine technologies — most importantly, the homegrown Hualong One reactor design.

"When you do something over and over and over again, you become very good at it," Bilbao y León told Bloomberg Television in an interview last month. "It's not one project, it's a program. This is what we're trying to do everywhere else in the world."

Source: Bloomberg Europe

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Justin

Commodity

Gold (GLD) is grinding its way higher again, and the move could be telling investors something about where the market wants to go next. The metal has now risen for a second straight session, climbing as much as 0.7% and trading around $4,090 an ounce, even as equities slipped and leveraged positions were unwound. A Bank of America survey suggested bullion may be one of the more favored global assets for 2026second only to the yenat a moment when the next big test for risk appetite arrives Wednesday with Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)'s earnings.

Behind the scenes, longer-term buyers and central banks appear to be absorbing much of the forced selling triggered by recent volatility. Saxo Bank's Ole Hansen noted that this steady demand could be building the groundwork for another advance in 2026. Gold has gained about 55% this year and is still positioned for its strongest annual performance since 1979, supported by persistent central-bank purchases and investors hedging against risks tied to sovereign debt and currencies. Even after pulling back from last month's record, the broader precious-metals complexsilver, palladium and platinumalso traded higher.

The macro picture remains complicated as the longest US government shutdown in history delays key economic releases, leaving traders with limited visibility. Hopes for a near-term rate cut have softened after recent comments from Federal Reserve officials, with interest-rate swaps now pricing roughly even odds for a December move after nearly assuming a quarter-point reduction two weeks ago. Investors will receive two important signals this week: Thursday's delayed September jobs report and Wednesday's release of the minutes from the Fed's Oct. 2829 meeting, which could offer insight into how reserve-management purchases and future liquidity decisions may shape demand for precious metals.

Source: Yahoo Finance

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James Whitman

Economic

The US trade deficit shrank in August as imports declined by the most in four months, official data showed Wednesday after a lengthy delay due to a government shutdown.

The goods and services trade gap narrowed almost 24% from the prior month to $59.6 billion, the Commerce Department said. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was for a $60.4 billion deficit.

The trade report had been scheduled for release on Oct. 7 but was delayed by the longest federal government shutdown, which ended last week. The agency said an updated release date for the September trade data, initially slated for Nov. 4, has yet to be determined.

In August, the value of imports decreased 5.1%, while exports edged up. The figures aren't adjusted for inflation.

A month earlier, the trade deficit widened as companies raced to import goods and materials before President Donald Trump unveiled new tariffs on global trading partners.

The large monthly swings in trade this year have introduced similar volatility in the government's measure of economic activity — gross domestic product. Prior to the August data, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's GDPNow forecast saw net exports contributing 0.57 percentage point to third-quarter GDP.

The slump in imports was led by a sharp drop in inbound shipments of nonmonetary gold, the agency said. Imports of capital goods including computer accessories and communications equipment also fell.

On an inflation-adjusted basis, the merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $83.7 billion in August, the smallest since the end of 2023.

Source: Bloomberg

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Michelle

Forex

Economic

Yen's selloff accelerated again today despite repeated warnings from top Japanese officials that they are monitoring FX markets with a "strong sense of urgency." The latest remarks came after Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama met BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda and Economic Revitalisation Minister Minoru Kiuchi, where all sides reaffirmed their commitment to the 2013 joint agreement to achieve 2% inflation.

Yet markets latched on to Katayama's admission that she has proposed a technical tweak to the joint agreement while keeping substantial elements intact. Any hint of modification is noteworthy. The original 2013 statement—signed under intense pressure from then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—called on the BoJ to achieve its 2% inflation target "at the earliest date possible" and committed both sides to defeating deflation. That language remained unchanged even after inflation has exceeded 2% for more than three years.

What the tweak entails is still unclear, but investors see it through the lens of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's clear pro-growth agenda and her administration's resistance to any rapid tightening. A revised framework that places greater emphasis on supporting the economy—or softens the urgency around 2%—could effectively tie the BoJ's hands and delay the next rate hike.

Yen bears also remain emboldened by expectations that Takaichi will deliver a massive fiscal package underpinned by ultra-low borrowing costs. Kyodo reported this week that the stimulus could exceed JPY 20 trillion, funded largely through an extra budget of around JPY 17 trillion. While Katayama said no final decision on size has been made, the political direction is clear: Tokyo wants growth first, tightening later.

Sterling, meanwhile, is holding steady after slightly stronger-than-expected headline UK inflation. But the details still show price pressures peaked in September at levels below the BoE's own projections. That keeps a December rate cut firmly on the table, with swaps pricing around an 80% probability. Friday's October retail sales and November PMIs are expected to reinforce the slowdown narrative.

The Autumn Budget next week remains the final catalyst. Markets will watch closely for clarity on whether tax measures will be deployed to plug the fiscal gap—an outcome that could shape the BoE's path beyond December.

In the broader currency space so far today, Euro is the strongest performer, followed by Dollar and Loonie. Kiwi sits at the bottom, followed by Yen and Aussie, while Sterling and Swiss Franc are trading mid-pack.

In Europe, at the time of writing, FTSE is down -0.06%. DAX is up 0.22%. CAC is flat. UK 10-year yield is up 0.003 at 4.560. Germany 10-year yield is down -0.018 at 2.689. Earlier in Asia, Nikkei fell -0.34%. Hong Kong HSI fell -0.38%. China Shanghai SSE rose 0.18%. Singapore Strait Times rose 0.01%. Japan 10-year JGB yield rose 0.023 to 1.772.

Eurozone CPI finalized at 2.1%, services lead price pressure

Eurozone CPI was finalized at 2.1% yoy in October, edging down from September's 2.2% and keeping headline inflation close to the ECB's target. Core CPI held steady at 2.4% yoy, unchanged from the previous month.

Services remained the dominant driver of inflation in Eurozone, contributing +1.54 percentage points, followed by food, alcohol and tobacco at +0.48 pp, while energy once again exerted a mild drag by -0.08pp.

Across the EU, inflation softened slightly to 2.5% yoy from September's 2.6%. Price dynamics continued to diverge sharply across member states: Cyprus recorded the lowest annual rate at 0.2%, followed by France (0.8%) and Italy (1.3%). At the other end of the spectrum, Romania remained an outlier at 8.4%, with Estonia (4.5%) and Latvia (4.3%) also posting elevated readings. Compared with the previous month, inflation eased in fifteen member states, held steady in three, and increased in nine.

UK CPI slows to 3.6%, keeping BoE on track for December cut

UK inflation eased in October, with headline CPI slowing from 3.8% yoy to 3.6%, just above the market's 3.5% forecast. Core inflation (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) matched expectations at 3.4% yoy, down from 3.5% previously.

Goods inflation cooled, slipping from 2.9% yoy to 2.6%, while services inflation—still the stickiest component—eased from 4.7% to 4.5%.

On a monthly basis, headline CPI rose 0.4% mom.

The figures point to steady, gradual deceleration rather than sharp disinflation, leaving the BoE's December cut narrative largely intact. Markets are unlikely to adjust pricing meaningfully until the Autumn Budget clarifies the fiscal stance. For now, the data reinforces a picture of easing, but not yet subdued, domestic price pressures.

Australia wage price index rises 0.8% qoq in Q3, private sector underperforms

Australia's wage price index rose 0.8% qoq in Q3, matching expectations and holding the same pace as Q2. The headline stability masks a mild divergence across sectors: private-sector wages increased 0.7% qoq while public-sector wages climbed 0.9% qoq, continuing their recent outperformance.

On an annual basis, wage growth came in at 3.4% yoy, unchanged from Q2. Public-sector pay rose 3.8% yoy, edging up from last year's 3.7%. Private-sector wage growth slowed to 3.2% yoy from 3.5% in September 2024. This marks the third consecutive quarter in which public wages have grown faster than their private counterparts.

USD/JPY Mid-Day Outlook

Daily Pivots: (S1) 154.98; (P) 155.36; (R1) 155.89;

USD/JPY's rally continues today and breaks above 100% projection of 146.58 to 153.26 from 149.37 at 156.05. There is no sign of topping yet and the break of medium term rising channel indicates upside acceleration. Intraday bias stays on the upside. Next target is 158.85 key structural resistance, and then 161.8% projection at 160.17. On the downside, below 155.20 minor support will turn intraday bias neutral and bring consolidations, before staging another rise.

In the bigger picture, current development suggests that corrective pattern from 161.94 (2024 high) has completed with three waves at 139.87. Larger up trend from 102.58 (2021 low) could be ready to resume through 161.94 high. On the downside, break of 150.90 restiveness turned support will dampen this bullish view and extend the corrective pattern with another falling leg.

Source: ACTIONFOREX

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Warren Takunda

Economic

What was once seen as a near-certain cut in interest rates next month now looks more like a coin flip as Federal Reserve officials sharply disagree over the economy’s health and whether stubborn inflation or weak hiring represent a bigger threat.

In several speeches in the past week, some policymakers have registered greater concern over persistent inflation in an echo of the “affordability” concerns that played a large role in elections earlier this month.

At the same time, another camp is much more concerned about meager hiring and the threat that the “low-hire, low-fire“ job market could worsen into one where layoffs become more widespread.

The turmoil on the Fed’s 19-member interest-rate setting committee reflects a deeply uncertain economic outlook brought about by multiple factors, including tariffs, artificial intelligence, and changes in immigration and tax policies.

“It’s reflective of a ton of uncertainty,” said Luke Tilley, chief economist at M&T Bank. “It’s not surprising at all that there’s a wide divergence of opinions.”

Fewer rate cuts by the Fed could leave borrowing costs for homes and cars elevated. More expensive mortgages and auto loans contribute to the widespread view, according to polls, that the cost of living is too high.

Some Fed watchers say that an unusually high number of dissents are possible at the December 9-10 meeting, regardless of whether the central bank reduces rates or not. Krishna Guha, an analyst at Evercore ISI, said a decision to cut could lead to as many as four or five dissents, while a decision to keep rates unchanged could produce three.

Four dissenting votes would be highly unusual, given the Fed’s history of seeking consensus. The last time four officials dissented was in 1992, under then-Chair Alan Greenspan.

Fed governor Christopher Waller on Monday noted that critics of the Fed often accuse it of “group think,” since many of its decisions are made unanimously.

“People who are accusing us of this, get ready,” Waller said Monday in remarks in London. “You might see the least group think you’ve seen ... in a long time.”

The differences have been exacerbated by the government shutdown’s interruption of economic data, a particular challenge for a Fed that Chair Jerome Powell has often described as “data dependent.” The government’s last jobs report was for August, and inflation for September.

September jobs data will finally be published Thursday, and are expected to show a small gain of 50,000 jobs that month and an unchanged unemployment rate at a still-low 4.3%.

For now, Wall Street investors put the odds of a December rate cut at 50-50, according to CME Fedwatch, down sharply from nearly 94% a month ago. The decline has contributed to the stock market’s drops this week.

After cutting their key rate in September for the first time this year, Fed policymakers signaled they expected to cut twice more, in October and December.

But after implementing a second reduction Oct. 29, Powell poured cold water on the prospects of another cut, describing it as “not a foregone conclusion — far from it.”

And speeches last week by a raft of regional Fed officials pushed the market odds of a December cut even lower. Susan Collins, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, said, “in all of my conversations with contacts across New England, I hear concerns about elevated prices.”

Collins said that keeping the Fed’s key rate at its current level of about 3.9% would help bring inflation down. The economy “has been holding up quite well” even with interest rates where they are, she added.

Several other regional presidents voiced similar concerns, including Raphael Bostic of the Atlanta Fed, Alberto Musalem of the St. Louis Fed, and Jeffrey Schmid at the Kansas City Fed. Musalem, Collins, and Schmid are among the 12 officials who vote on policy this year. Schmid dissented in October in favor of keeping rates unchanged.

“When I talk to contacts in my district, I hear continued concern over the pace of price increases,” Schmid said Friday. “Some of this has to do with the effect of tariffs on input prices, but it is not just tariffs — or even primarily tariffs — that has people worried. I hear concerns about rising health care costs and insurance premiums, and I hear a lot about electricity.”

On Monday, however, Waller argued that sluggish hiring is a bigger concern, and renewed his call for a rate cut next month.

“The labor market is still weak and near stall speed,” he said. “Inflation through September continued to show relatively small effects from tariffs and support the hypothesis that tariffs ... are not a persistent source of inflation.”

Waller also dismissed the concern — voiced by Schmid and others — that the Fed should keep rates elevated because inflation has topped the Fed’s 2% target for five years. So far that hasn’t led the public to worry that inflation will stay elevated for an extended period, Waller noted.

“You can’t just sort of say it’s been above target for five years, so I’m not going to cut,” he added. “You got to give us better answers than that.”

There could be consensus for an interest rate cut if, say, new data for October and November show the economy shedding jobs, according to Esther George, the former president of the Kansas City Fed.

It’s also worth noting that many economists had expected multiple dissents in September, but instead only Stephen Miran, a governor appointed that month by President Donald Trump, voted against the rate cut decision, in favor of an even bigger reduction.

“Registering a dissent is a hard decision, and I think you’re going to find people that are speaking today that wouldn’t follow through with a vote in that direction,” she said. “I think you’re going to find enough consensus, whichever way they go.”

Source: AP

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Adam

Stocks

What happened

Diplomatic tensions escalated after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated in parliament on 7 November that a Chinese military action against Taiwan could constitute an existential threat to Japan, potentially warranting a military response from Tokyo. Beijing responded over the weekend by issuing a travel advisory and expressing concerns regarding the safety of Chinese nationals in Japan.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry asserted that recent statements on Taiwan had undermined the foundation of bilateral relations and called upon Takaichi to retract her remarks. On Monday, Takaichi characterised her comments as 'hypothetical' and pledged to refrain from making similar statements in parliamentary proceedings.

Nikkei plunges below 50,000 and yen weakens

Heightened diplomatic tensions with China triggered significant investor concern, with travel and retail-oriented equities experiencing substantial sell-offs following Beijing's advisory to Chinese citizens against visiting Japan. Beauty and personal care company Shiseido witnessed its shares decline by 12%, while department store operator Isetan Mitsukoshi fell over 11%, and Ryohin Keikaku, parent company of Muji, shed more than 9% of its market value.

Combined with concerns regarding elevated valuations in US technology equities, the Nikkei 225 declined 3% across the first two trading sessions this week, falling beneath the 50,000 threshold. The yen simultaneously weakened, breaching 155 against the dollar.

Market vulnerability and economic backdrop

Recent developments reinforce external perceptions of Takaichi's hardline conservative positioning, which has clearly unsettled Beijing. While the market reaction appears pronounced, the underlying concerns are legitimate.

The timing proves particularly inopportune given Japan's fragile economic landscape. Japan's third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.8% on an annualised basis, marking the first contraction in six quarters. The deceleration stemmed from a sharper decline in net exports and softened private consumption. Households continue to grapple with rising costs amid anaemic real wage growth, while the broader economy confronts external headwinds including US tariffs. Domestic consumption has failed to generate meaningful momentum in retail sales, rendering tourism revenues increasingly critical to economic growth.

Tourism impact

Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau represent approximately 27% of all foreign arrivals to Japan in 2024, totalling close to 9.8 million visitors. Should tensions persist, tangible impacts on retail and tourism-related equities could materialise. That said, visitors from other regions may partially offset this demand contraction. Notably, Japan's recent decision to triple the tourism tax to ¥3000 suggests authorities believe current visitor volumes exceed optimal levels, indicating some buffer capacity exists.

It is worth noting that certain equities most severely affected in this episode, such as Shiseido, were already contending with separate operational challenges—the geopolitical tensions merely amplified pre-existing vulnerabilities.

Trade implications

Should tensions intensify further, disruptions could extend into the trade relationship, which remains asymmetric yet mutually significant. Japan maintains a ¥6.4 trillion trade deficit with China in 2024 and depends heavily on Chinese imports for consumer electronics, household appliances and critical rare-earth metals—inputs essential for Japanese manufacturers to sustain export competitiveness. Conversely, Japan dominates the global supply of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and precision machinery crucial to China's technology sector and industrial ambitions. Any sustained trade disruption would prove detrimental to both economies.

Technical analysis

Nikkei 225

The Japan 225 index has declined approximately 8% from its early November peak, but given it continues trading above the 200-day moving average (MA), the medium-term ascending trend remains intact. The trend line originating from early April is likely to provide support around 48,000. The Bollinger Bands also indicate an oversold condition, which could potentially drive a technical rebound towards immediate resistance around 51,500. However, should the index breach below 48,000, the next material support lies near 45,000.

Figure 1: Japan 225 daily price chart

as of 19 November 2025. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

USD/JPY

USD/JPY has gained momentum following the breakout in early October after Takaichi's election as president of the Liberal Democratic Party. The pair currently trades at the resistance range of 154.8-156. Should the US dollar strengthen further beyond this resistance range, January's high at 158.9 will come into focus. Conversely, a rejection below 156 would likely suggest consolidation within the 153-155 range, with 151.6 acting as key support.

Figure 2: USD/JPY daily price chart

as of 19 November 2025. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Source: ig

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Glendon

Forex

Economic

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed more than expected in August as imports declined, but trade could still subtract from economic growth in the third quarter.

The trade gap contracted 23.8% to $59.6 billion, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis and Census Bureau said on Wednesday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit would ease to $61.0 billion.

Imports decreased 5.1% to $340.4 billion, while exports edged up 0.1% to $280.8 billion.

The report, which was initially scheduled for release on October 7, was delayed because of the recently ended 43-day shutdown of the government.

President Donald Trump's protectionist trade policy, marked by sweeping tariffs, has caused big swings in imports and the trade deficit, distorting the overall economic picture.

The U.S. Supreme Court early this month heard arguments on the legality of Trump's import duties, with justices raising doubts about his authority to impose tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Trade sliced off a record 4.68 percentage points from gross domestic product in the first quarter before adding all that back to GDP in the April-June quarter. Estimates for third-quarter GDP growth are well above a 3.0% annualized rate.

The third-quarter GDP report was due in late October but delayed by the government shutdown. The economy grew at a 3.8% pace in the second quarter, with a smaller trade deficit being the key driver.