Lee Seung-heon Signals Caution on Rate Hikes, Supports Higher Property Taxes to Cool Korea’s Housing Market 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S. stocks ended nearly flat on Friday after a choppy trading session, as investors remained cautious ahead of a long holiday weekend and the early stages of fourth-quarter earnings season. Despite modest daily moves, all three major U.S. stock indexes recorded weekly losses, reflecting uncertainty around earnings, policy signals, and sector rotation.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 83.11 points, or 0.17%, to close at 49,359.33. The S&P 500 edged down 0.06% to 6,940.01, while the Nasdaq Composite also lost 0.06%, finishing at 23,515.39. For the week, the S&P 500 declined 0.38%, the Nasdaq fell 0.66%, and the Dow dropped 0.29%.
Healthcare stocks led sector declines on Friday, falling 0.8%, while semiconductor stocks outperformed. An index tracking chipmakers gained 1.2%, extending momentum from the prior session and highlighting ongoing strength in the technology supply chain. Financial stocks ended Friday slightly higher, but the sector posted its steepest weekly decline since October. Bank shares faced pressure amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%, despite mostly solid earnings results from major U.S. banks.
Markets also reacted to comments from Trump suggesting he may retain economic adviser Kevin Hassett in his current role, easing speculation that Hassett could replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Investors viewed the remarks as a stabilizing signal for monetary policy expectations.
Trading volumes were elevated, with 18.77 billion shares changing hands, above the recent 20-day average. The Russell 2000 small-cap index continued to outperform, reaching another record closing high and gaining more than 2% for the week, as money rotated out of large-cap technology stocks into undervalued mid- and small-cap names.
Looking ahead, earnings season accelerates next week with reports from major companies including Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel. With markets closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and monthly options expiration behind them, investors expect continued volatility in the near term, particularly during what has historically been a choppy period for U.S. stocks in mid-January.
