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Global stock markets were sluggish Monday on the back of a mixed Asian showing, as investors awaited fresh clues on the outlook for US interest rates.The dollar largely rose against main rivals, precious metals retreated from record highs and oil prices firmed in quiet post-Christmas trading with some focus on Ukraine talks.After the Federal Reserve lowered borrowing costs earlier in December, the US central bank indicated that it could stand pat when decision-makers gather again at the end of next month.Just over two hours into trading, Wall Street was in the red with the Dow off 0.6 percent at 48,428.57 points while the tech-heavy Nasdaq shed 0.7 percent and the S&P 500 was off half of one percent as tech stocks notably receded after recent gains.In Europe, London and Frankfurt were both flat at the close while Paris barely inched into the green.The minutes from the last Fed meeting are published Tuesday and traders will be poring over their contents for any indication about the Fed’s plans for 2026.The prospect of cuts has helped push world stock markets to multiple record highs this year, offsetting worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector.”Concerns about overvaluations and an AI bubble look set to continue to dominate market chatter into next year,” Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, noted on Monday. On commodities markets, gold and silver slipped back after hitting all-time peaks in recent days.The precious metals had both hit record highs on expectations of more rate cuts, which made them more desirable to investors.Their status as a safe-haven asset in times of turmoil has also added to their allure given geopolitical upheaval from US strikes in Nigeria and a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.On Monday, gold was sitting under $4,400 an ounce, having peaked a whisker shy of $4,550 on Friday.Silver shed almost 10 percent on Friday’s close, sliding down to $71.86 an ounce having earlier touched a record above $84.Silver has seen a sharp run-up in recent weeks also owing to surging demand and tight supply.Oil prices rose two percent, reversing a similar-sized Friday dip following a weekend meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.Trump said Monday he had a “positive” call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after Sunday having said a deal was closer than ever to end the conflict.An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, adding to an oversupplied market.- Key figures at around 1650 GMT – New York – Dow: DOWN 0.6 percent at 48,428.57 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.5 percent at 6,895.48 New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 0.7 percent at 23,428.97London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,866.53 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 8,112.02 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: FLAT at 24,351.124 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 50,526.92 (close) Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,635.23 (close)Shanghai – Composite: FLAT at 3,965.28 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1760 from $1.1776 on FridayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3492 from $1.3501Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.02 yen from 156.50 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.17 pence from 87.21 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.2 percent at $61.98 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $58.13 per barrel

Global stock markets marked time Monday after a mixed Asian showing, as investors awaited fresh clues on the outlook for US interest rates.The dollar largely rose against main rivals, precious metals retreated from record highs and oil prices firmed in quiet post-Christmas trading with some focus on Ukraine talks.After the Federal Reserve lowered borrowing costs earlier in December, the US central bank indicated that it could stand pat when decision-makers gather again at the end of next month.Wall Street opened just slightly down with tech stocks notably losing some ground after recent gains — the tech-heavy Nasdaq was off 0.4 percent shortly after the opening bell while the broader S&P 500 and the Dow lost around 0.2 percent.Major European markets were meanwhile largely flat some two hours from the close.The minutes from the last Fed meeting are published Tuesday and traders will be poring over their contents for any indication about the Fed’s plans for 2026.The prospect of cuts has helped push world stock markets to multiple record highs this year, offsetting worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector.”Concerns about overvaluations and an AI bubble look set to continue to dominate market chatter into next year,” Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, noted on Monday. On commodities markets, gold and silver slipped after hitting all-time peaks in recent days.The precious metals had both hit record highs on expectations of more rate cuts, which made them more desirable to investors.Their status as a safe-haven asset in times of turmoil has also added to their allure amid geopolitical upheaval with US strikes in Nigeria and a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.On Monday, gold was sitting under $4,400 an ounce, having peaked a whisker shy of $4,550 on Friday.Silver slid below $73 an ounce after touching a record above $84 on Monday.Silver has seen a sharp run-up in recent weeks also owing to surging demand and tight supply.Oil prices rose two percent Monday, having sunk more than two percent Friday as investors eyed a weekend meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.Trump said Sunday a deal was closer than ever to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the issue of territory.An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, adding to an oversupplied market.- Key figures at around 1450 GMT – New York – Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 48,596.85 pointsNew York – S&P 500: DOWN 0.2 percent at 6,915.15 New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 0.4 percent at 23,508.45London – FTSE 100: FLAT at 9,872.66Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.2 percent at 8,121.70Frankfurt – DAX: FLAT at 24,347.34Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 50,526.92 (close) Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,635.23 (close)Shanghai – Composite: FLAT at 3,965.28 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1783 from $1.1776 on FridayPound/dollar: UP at $1.3503 from $1.3501Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.10 yen from 156.50 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.27 pence from 87.21 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.1 percent at $61.91 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.2 percent at $58.01 per barrel

European stock markets steadied after a mixed Asian showing Monday, as investors awaited fresh clues on the outlook for US interest rates.The dollar largely rose against main rivals, precious metals retreated from record highs and oil prices firmed in quiet post-Christmas trading.After the Federal Reserve lowered borrowing costs earlier in December, the US central bank indicated that it could stand pat when decision-makers gather again at the end of next month.The minutes from the last meeting are published Tuesday and traders will be poring over their contents for any indication about the Fed’s plans for 2026.The prospect of cuts has helped push world stock markets to multiple record highs this year, offsetting niggling worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector.”Concerns about overvaluations and an AI bubble look set to continue to dominate market chatter into next year,” Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, noted on Monday. On commodities markets, gold and silver slipped after hitting all-time peaks in recent days.The precious metals have enjoyed strong buying, with gold and silver both hitting record highs on expectations of more rate cuts, making them more desirable to investors.Their status as a safe haven asset in times of turmoil has also added to their allure amid geopolitical upheaval with US strikes in Nigeria and a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.On Monday, gold was sitting around $4,450 an ounce, having peaked a whisker shy of $4,550 on Friday.Silver slid to $75.64 an ounce after touching a record above $84 on Monday.Silver has seen a sharp run-up in recent weeks also owing to surging demand and tight supply.Oil prices rose two percent Monday, having sunk more than two percent Friday as investors eyed a weekend meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.Trump said Sunday a deal was closer than ever to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the issue of territory.An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, adding to an oversupplied market.- Key figures at around 1130 GMT – London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 9,878.07 pointsParis – CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 8,109.63Frankfurt – DAX: DOWN 0.1 percent at 24,326.23Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 50,526.92 (close) Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,635.23 (close)Shanghai – Composite: FLAT at 3,965.28 (close)New York – Dow: FLAT at 48,710.97 (close)Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1762 from $1.1776 on FridayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3496 from $1.3501Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.29 yen from 156.50 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 87.15 pence from 87.21 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0 percent at $61.90 per barrelWest Texas Intermediate: UP 2.2 percent at $57.97 per barrel

Equities were mixed Monday in quiet post-Christmas trading as investors look ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting this month, while precious metals retreated from record highs.Markets looked set to end the last few days of the year on a positive note, helped by hopes for more US interest rate cuts and optimism that the tech-led rally still has more legs.While the US central bank lowered borrowing costs earlier in December as expected, it also indicated it could stand pat when decision-makers gather again at the end of next month, with two voting against any move and one calling for a bigger reduction.The minutes from the meeting are due to be released on Tuesday and traders will be poring over their contents for any indication about its plans for 2026.The prospect of cuts has helped push world markets ever higher this year, offsetting niggling worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector.On Monday, shares in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok slipped while those in Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Manila edged up. Shanghai was marginally higher.London rose at the open, while Paris was flat and Frankfurt edged up.On commodities markets, gold and silver slipped after hitting new records in recent days.The precious metals have also enjoyed strong buying, with gold and silver both hitting record highs on expectations for more rate cuts, which makes them more desirable to investors.Their status as a safe haven asset in times of turmoil has also added to their allure amid geopolitical upheaval with US strikes in Nigeria and a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.On Monday gold was sitting around $4,450, having peaked a whisker shy of $4,550 on Friday, while silver slipped to $77.00 after touching a record above $80.The white metal has also seen a sharp run-up in recent weeks owing to surging demand and tight supply.”We are witnessing a generational bubble playing out in silver,” wrote Tony Sycamore at IG.”Relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centres and electronics, pushing against depleting inventories, has driven physical premiums to extremes.”Oil prices rose, having sunk more than two percent Friday as investors eyed the weekend meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.Trump said Sunday a deal was closer than ever to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the issue of territory.The US president said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to end the nearly four-year-long war that has killed tens of thousands.- Key figures at around 0815 GMT – Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.4 percent at 50,526.92 (close) Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.7 percent at 25,635.23 (close)Shanghai – Composite: FLAT at 3,965.28 (close)London – FTSE 100: UP 0.1 percent at 9,876.52Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.12 yen from 156.50 yen on FridayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1773 from $1.1776Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3480 from $1.3501Euro/pound: UP at 87.34 pence from 87.21 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.2 percent at $57.39 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 1.1 percent at $61.28 per barrelNew York – Dow: FLAT at 48,710.97 (close)

Asian equities mostly rose Monday in quiet post-Christmas trading as investors look ahead to the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting this month, while precious metals retreated from record highs.Markets looked set to end the last few days of the year on a positive note, helped by hopes for more US interest rate cuts and optimism that the tech-led rally still has more legs.While the US central bank lowered borrowing costs earlier in December as expected, it also indicated it could stand pat when decision-makers gather again at the end of next month, with two voting against any move and one calling for a bigger reduction.The minutes from the meeting are due to be released on Tuesday and traders will be poring over their contents for any indication about its plans for 2026.The prospect of cuts has helped push world markets ever higher this year, offsetting niggling worries about stretched valuations in the tech sector.In early trade Monday, shares in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Manila rose while those in Tokyo, Sydney and Wellington retreated.On commodities markets, gold and silver slipped after hitting new records in recent days.The precious metals have also enjoyed strong buying, with gold and silver both hitting record highs on expectations for more rate cuts, which makes them more desirable to investors.Their status as a safe haven asset in times of turmoil has also added to their allure amid geopolitical upheaval with US strikes in Nigeria and a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers.On Monday gold was sitting around $4,500, having peaked a whisker shy of $4,550 on Friday, while silver slipped to $77.50 after touching a record $80.The white metal has also seen a sharp run-up in recent weeks owing to surging demand and tight supply.”We are witnessing a generational bubble playing out in silver,” wrote Tony Sycamore at IG.”Relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centres and electronics, pushing against depleting inventories, has driven physical premiums to extremes.”Oil prices rose, having sunk more than two percent Friday as investors eyed the weekend meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.Trump said Sunday a deal was closer than ever to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but reported no apparent breakthrough on the issue of territory.The US president said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to end the nearly four-year-long war that has killed tens of thousands.- Key figures at around 0230 GMT – Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.3 percent at 50,550.17 (break) Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 26,016.01Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,973.45Dollar/yen: DOWN at 156.31 yen from 156.50 yen on FridayEuro/dollar: UP at $1.1784 from $1.1776Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3509 from $1.3501Euro/pound: UP at 87.23 pence from 87.21 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.7 percent at $57.14 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.7 percent at $61.09 per barrelNew York – Dow: FLAT at 48,710.97 (close)

Growing Chinese auto giant BYD stands poised to officially surpass Tesla as the world’s biggest electric vehicle company in annual sales.The two groups are expected soon to publish their final figures for 2025, and based on sales data so far this year, there is almost no chance the American company led by Elon Musk will retain its leadership position.At the end of November, Shenzhen-based BYD, which also produces hybrid vehicles, had sold 2.07 million EVs so far in 2025.Tesla, for its part, had sold 1.22 million by the end of September. Tesla’s September figures included a one-time boost in sales, to nearly half-a-million vehicles in a three-month period, before the expiration of a US tax credit for buyers of electric vehicles — which ended under legislation backed by President Donald Trump, a climate change skeptic.But Tesla’s sales in the coming quarter are expected to fall to 449,000, according to a FactSet analysis consensus. That would give Tesla about 1.65 million sales for all of 2025, a drop of 7.7 percent and well below the level BYD had attained by end November.Deutsche Bank, which projects just 405,000 Tesla EV sales during the fourth quarter, sees the company’s sales down by around one-third in both North America and Europe, and by one-tenth in China.- Transition period -Industry watchers say it will take time for EV demand to reach a level of equilibrium in the United States following the elimination of the $7,500 US tax credit at the end of September 2025.Even prior to that, Tesla had seen sales struggle in key markets over CEO Musk’s political support of Trump and other far-right politicians. Tesla has also faced rising EV competition from BYD and other Chinese companies and from European giants.”We believe Tesla will see some weakness on deliveries” in the fourth quarter, said Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.Sales of 420,000 would be “good enough to show stable demand,” with Wall Street “laser focused on the autonomous chapter kicking off in 2026,” Ives added, referring to plans for self-driving vehicles.Even as it has grown quickly, BYD has faced challenges in its home market. With profitability in China weighed down by price-wary consumers, the company has sought to strengthen its foothold in foreign markets.BYD is “one of the pioneers to establish overseas production capacity and supply chains for EVs,” Jing Yang, Director of Asia-Pacific Corporate Ratings at Fitch Ratings, told AFP.”Going forward, its geographical diversification is likely to help it to navigate an increasingly complicated global tariff environment,” said Yang.Overseas rivals to BYD have balked at Chinese state subsidies and other state supports that have allowed the company to sell vehicles cheaply. Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden imposed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EV imports that could potentially go even higher under Trump. Europe has also imposed tariffs on Chinese imports, but BYD is building manufacturing capacity in Hungary.While the chance of Tesla reclaiming its global leadership in EVs looks uncertain, the American company is also potentially positioned for growth.Michaeli of TD Cowen sees autonomous technology playing an increasingly important role for Tesla, with breakthroughs in its “full self-driving” or “FSD” offerings potentially boosting sales.”As Tesla really begins to roll out eyes-off features and expand FSDs capability, if they do that successfully, that should generate more demand for their vehicles,” Michaeli said.Musk has said the Cybercab, an autonomous robotaxi model, will begin production in April 2026. The company has also unveiled lower-priced versions of the Models 3 and Y that could boost sales.

The piercing pop-pop of pickleball paddles starts before sunrise and ends after midnight at dozens of newly built courts across Hanoi, as residents relish one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing sports — or rage at the noise it makes.The initial craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a paddle per capita than anywhere else in Asia, according to one survey.Now unwitting spectators are yelling fault, filing noise complaints and petitions to curb playing hours that have left authorities in a pickle.In the country’s densely packed cities, courts are wedged between tight alleyways and nestled beneath high-rises, disturbing thousands of people at once.”It drives me nuts,” said Hoa Nguyen, 44, who lives with her family behind a multicourt complex in Hanoi’s northeastern outskirts. “People are playing in the middle of the night and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Nguyen told AFP, adding that she had filed a complaint with local authorities.”The noise makes it impossible for me to sleep. It just keeps going pop-pop-pop.”Most noise complaints on the capital’s iHanoi app stem from pickleball, according to state media, which has dubbed the sport an “acoustic hazard”.Associated noise-related issues range from unruly crowds to honking horns in overcrowded parking lots.Lam Thanh, 50, who manages a dormitory for workers near one of Ho Chi Minh City’s estimated 1,000 courts, says the cacophony is proving to be costly. “Many tenants couldn’t stand the noise and have moved elsewhere,” she said.”There’s the popping sound of paddles, cheering, shouting and joking around — it’s all extremely exhausting for us.” – ‘Quite appealing’ -Vietnam’s pickleball boom began around two years ago, players and coaches say, well after its popularity surged in the United States and Canada. But the country is now the sport’s second-fastest-growing market in Asia after Malaysia, according to pickleball rating company DUPR.Regional professional circuit PPA Tour Asia says more than 16 million people in Vietnam have picked up a paddle, though that figure is extrapolated from a survey of around 1,000 respondents. Hanoi’s Long Bien district, its pickleball centre, has more than 100 courts, up from 54 in less than a year, according to state media.Pickleholic Club, Victory Pickleball and Pro Pickleball Vn are all within a five-minute walk, with dozens more a short drive away.Coach Pham Duc Trung, 37, said the sport’s accessibility was key to its popularity.”The paddle is light and the ball is light… Children can play it, and so can adults,” he said.”The sound of the ball hitting the paddle is quite appealing,” he added.Not everyone agrees.- ‘Haunted’ -Around the world, the plinks and pops of pickleball have spawned outrage, provoking protests and even lawsuits. But Vietnam’s widespread embrace of the sport, and its cities’ rapid growth in recent decades as the economy boomed, help explain the intense frustration. Ho Chi Minh City already ranks among the loudest cities in Asia, according to the United Nations, with noise pollution levels high enough to damage hearing.And experts say pickleball sounds are louder and higher-pitched than tennis or badminton.  A nationwide noise ordinance is supposed to limit the din, especially late at night, but residents say the courtside clatter often goes unmuted.Hanoi high school student Duong, 16, cannot focus on his homework.”The sound made by this ball is very unpleasant,” he said. “My mind feels blank because I cannot concentrate.”Vietnam’s sports ministry did not reply to AFP’s request for comment. But pressure is building to smash the problem, with state media carrying health warnings from doctors. “The constant bouncing of the pickleball is not only annoying but also subtly triggers stress, disrupts sleep, and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease,” according to state-run VTC News website.Ball strikes register “like the ticking of a clock against the temples”, it said this month, adding many people are “haunted by the sound of popping”.

Wall Street stocks edged down from records on Friday amid holiday-thinned trading while precious metals extended their year-long surge to record highs.Silver topped $75 an ounce for the first time while gold also pushed to a fresh record price, with geopolitical risk elevated as US military and economic pressure on Venezuela persists.Precious metals have surged in 2025 as uncertainty about US policy under President Donald Trump — and the prospect of further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts — have weakened the dollar, reducing its appeal to investors. Major indices in New York moved sideways for much of a quiet, post-Christmas session. All three finished marginally lower, with the Dow and S&P 500 both slightly below Wednesday’s records.But market watchers remain bullish ahead of next week’s finale to 2025. Stocks often rise in the peak festive period, sometimes yielding a “Santa Claus rally.” “We’ve had a good week so with the weekend ahead, and also with the light trading for next week, possibly you had people who are just looking to take some profits,” said CFRA Research’s Sam Stovall. “But I still think that we’re going to end the year on a high note.”Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei all rose by closing time on Friday. Markets in Hong Kong, Australia and most of Europe were closed. Oil prices, meanwhile, dropped more than two percent as markets looked ahead to a meeting Sunday between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on peace proposals.But Russia signaled its skepticism ahead of the Florida talks, with deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov accusing the Ukraine president and his EU backers of seeking to “torpedo” a US-brokered plan.- Key figures at around 2115 GMT – New York – Dow: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 48,710.97(close)New York – S&P 500: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 6,929.94 (close)New York – Nasdaq: DOWN 0.1 percent at 23,593.10 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 50,750.39 (close) Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,963.68 (close) Dollar/yen: UP at 156.50 yen from 155.83 yen on ThursdayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1776 from $1.1784Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3501 from $1.3521Euro/pound: FLAT at 87.21 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 2.8 percent at $56.74 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 2.6 percent at $60.64 per barrel

The Japanese government approved a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year on Friday, to pay for everything from bigger defence spending to ballooning social security costs as inflation persists.The 122.3-trillion-yen ($782 billion) budget for the fiscal year from April 2026 will include a record nine trillion yen for defence spending, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to accelerate Tokyo’s sweeping upgrade of its military in the face of worsening relations with China.”This budget is the least we need to fulfil our defence responsibilities as Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war,” Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a news conference.Japan has been shedding its strict pacifist stance in recent years, moving to obtain “counterstrike” capabilities and doubling military spending to two percent of GDP.At the core of its request is 100 billion yen for the so-called SHIELD coastal defence system, which would marshal drones to block any invasion by foreign troops. Japan is hoping that SHIELD — Synchronised, Hybrid, Integrated and Enhanced Littoral Defence — will be completed by March 2028, with no details yet about to which part of Japan’s coastline it will be linked.The budget plan comes as China and Japan are enmeshed in a spat over Takaichi’s suggestion in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan. Beijing claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.- Market worries -The expanding budget also arrives as the market worries about Takaichi’s big spending policies adding to Japan’s public debts.The 122-trillion-yen figure compares with the 115 trillion yen sought for the current fiscal year to March, which was also a record. Japan already has the biggest ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) among major economies, projected to reach 232.7 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.Parliament approved a massive extra budget this month to pay for a 21.3-trillion-yen stimulus announced in November.The market has reacted by driving down the value of the yen, while the benchmark yield rose for Japanese government bonds. Some observers have drawn comparisons to the United Kingdom’s 2022 bond market turmoil under then-premier Liz Truss.Takaichi has advocated big government spending to spur economic growth.The budget “is designed to make people live safely, receive necessary medicine, welfare and high-quality education and have jobs, no matter where they are in Japan,” she told a news conference on Friday.Takaichi stressed her commitment to Tokyo’s fiscal health in an interview with the influential Nikkei business daily on Tuesday, rejecting any “irresponsible bond issuance or tax cuts”.The current size of the budget is unlikely to shock the bond market, Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, wrote in a note before Friday.But an increase to around 125 trillion yen or more, he said, would cause the “turmoil in the bond market, already in crisis mode, to deepen further”. Kiuchi noted that, under Takaichi, the extra budget quickly ballooned, reaching $18 trillion yen.”Financial markets are likely on high alert for a similar occurrence,” he said.”Should the fall of the yen and bond prices further accelerate due to the size of the budget, it would increase worries about adverse effects on the economy and people’s lives.”A weaker yen raises prices of imports for resource-poor Japan, which relies heavily on foreign food, energy and raw materials to power its economy.Takaichi came to power in October with a pledge to fight inflation after anger over rising prices.Another challenge is Japan’s ageing population, caused by chronically low birth rates and a cautious approach to immigration.The draft budget needs to be approved by parliament.

Asian stocks edged higher on Friday amid holiday-thinned trade and with some exchanges closed for Boxing Day, while precious metals extended their year-long rally towards record highs.Silver reached $75 an ounce for the first time and gold continued to hover around its own record price, with geopolitical risk elevated as US military and economic pressure on Venezuela persists.Regional markets extended their upward rise after Wall Street saw US shares close at a high this week. Most markets across the world were shuttered Thursday for Christmas. Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei all rose by closing time on Friday. Markets in Hong Kong, Australia and most of Europe were closed. Analysts have projected a “Santa Claus rally” — the phenomenon where prices tend to rise during the last five days of December and the first two days of the new year. The movement came after traders in New York pushed the S&P 500 to an all-time high before the Christmas break in response to figures showing the world’s top economy expanded 4.3 percent in the third quarter.On Friday, silver pushed to a record $75 an ounce and gold remained above $4,500 an ounce, with US-Venezuela tensions adding to expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep cutting rates next year.Geopolitical worries have grown as Washington pressures Caracas with a blockade of sanctioned oil vessels sailing to and from Venezuela.The yen remained relatively steady Friday but saw a general rebound this week, after Japanese officials said they were prepared to step in to support the currency. Japan’s government on Friday approved a record 122 trillion yen ($782 billion) budget, in part boosting defence spending, as inflation in the country persists. – Key figures at around 0700 GMT – Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 50,750.39 (close) Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,963.68 (close) Dollar/yen: UP at 156.31 yen from 155.98 yen on ThursdayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1775 from $1.1782Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3485 from $1.3529Euro/pound: UP at 87.31 pence from 87.21 penceWest Texas Intermediate: UP 0.3 percent at $58.53 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: UP 0.2 percent at $62.39 per barrelNew York – Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 48,731.16 (close)London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 9,870.68 (close)