Asian Stocks Surge on Rally Hopes; Oil Jumps, Fed Signals Caution on Rate Cuts

• Asian equities opened higher, tracking US gains, with MSCI Asia Pacific shares up 0.5% led by tech.
• Hopes for a year-end rally intensified after dip buyers helped equities recover from doubts over AI exuberance and Fed easing.
• Oil prices climbed as US President Donald Trump intensified a blockade on Venezuela; Bitcoin and silver also saw gains.
• Focus on China's unchanged loan prime rates, potential PBOC easing in 2026, and US House Committee's scrutiny of Chinese firms.
• US Fed officials John Williams and Beth Hammack signaled no urgency for rate cuts, despite traders betting on 2026 reductions.

Why It Matters: Asian stocks rise on year-end rally hopes, but Fed remains cautious on rate cuts amid global market shifts.