Australia September Trade Surplus Surges to A$2.83 Billion, Nearly Tripling Forecasts

Australia posted a September trade surplus of A$2,826 million, vastly exceeding the consensus estimate of around A$1,000 million and dwarfing the prior month's revised A$495 million surplus. Exports rose 2.3% month-on-month, a slowdown from the prior 3.7% gain, while imports fell sharply by 3.3% after surging 5.8% the previous month, indicating the widening surplus was driven heavily by a pullback in import demand rather than export acceleration alone.

Japan's final S&P Global Composite PMI for October came in at 52.1, easing slightly from the prior reading of 52.3, with the services component slipping to 51.7 from 52.0. Both readings remain comfortably in expansion territory above the 50 threshold, though the modest softening points to a gradual cooling in Japanese private-sector activity.

Brazil's central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 13.75%, matching both the forecast and the previous level, signaling continued caution as policymakers weigh inflation dynamics against economic conditions.