Asian stock markets rose across the board, with Taiwan Semiconductor up nearly 5%. European stocks opened slightly lower, while gold hit a new high

Boosted by positive expectations of Chinese policies, Asia-Pacific stock indices rose on Friday, with the Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index up 1.9%, the Nikkei 225 Index up 0.2%, and slight gains in Thailand, Vietnam, and India stock indices, while the Seoul Composite Index in South Korea fell by 0.5%.

US retail sales and initial jobless claims data were robust, leading to a mixed performance in overnight US stocks with the Dow hitting a new high, semiconductor stocks leading the gains, and NVIDIA hitting an intraday high. The upward trend in Asia-Pacific semiconductor stocks continued today, with TSMC in Taiwan rising nearly 5% after its earnings report.

European stocks opened slightly lower, with the Euro Stoxx 50 Index down 0.1%, the German DAX Index down 0.2%, the UK's FTSE 100 Index down 0.4%, and the French CAC 40 Index down 0.2%.

Yesterday, the European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time this year as expected, lowering rates by 25 basis points. The Eurozone's September CPI remained stable at 1.7% year-on-year, the first time in three years it has fallen below the central bank's target, leading to increased expectations of a rate cut, with the probability of a significant 50 basis point cut in December rising to 20%.

US stock index futures showed mixed movements with little volatility.

Spot gold maintained its high level, trading at $2703 per ounce. In early trading today, spot gold surpassed the $2700 per ounce mark, reaching a new historical high.

International oil and silver prices saw slight gains.

Before the US stock market opens, American Express, Schlumberger, Procter & Gamble, and others are set to release their earnings reports