Gold Prices Slip in Asian Trade as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Trump Threatens to Block Gordie Howe Bridge, Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions 
Australian Business Conditions Ease Slightly in January as Cost Pressures Hit Post-Pandemic Lows 
Lee Seung-heon Signals Caution on Rate Hikes, Supports Higher Property Taxes to Cool Korea’s Housing Market 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Data as Yen Holds Post-Election Gains 
China CPI Growth Slows While Producer Deflation Eases in January 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Investors Await Key Jobs and Inflation Data 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Asian Stocks Rise as Japan Rally, AI Optimism and Fed Outlook Shape Markets 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Australian Central Bank Signals Tough Stance as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Japan Weighs Using Foreign Exchange Reserve Surplus to Fund Food Tax Cuts 
Yen Strengthens as Japan Election Boosts Confidence, Dollar Wavers Ahead of U.S. Jobs Data 
Oil Prices Dip as Hormuz Tensions, Iran Talks, and Russia Sanctions Shape Market Outlook 
U.S. stocks finished mixed on Tuesday as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data and positioned cautiously ahead of a highly anticipated labor market report. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged higher to notch its third consecutive record close, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended the session lower amid pressure on technology and communication services stocks.
The S&P 500’s communication services sector was the weakest performer of the day, dragged down largely by Alphabet. Shares of Google’s parent company slid 1.8% after it announced a $20 billion bond sale. The move reignited investor concerns about rising capital expenditures among major technology firms as they race to dominate the artificial intelligence market. Amazon, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft are collectively expected to spend hundreds of billions of dollars by 2026 to support AI infrastructure and development.
Broader market sentiment was also dampened by U.S. retail sales data showing no growth in December, defying economists’ expectations for a 0.4% increase. The slowdown was driven by reduced spending on vehicles and other big-ticket items, signaling that consumer demand and economic momentum may be cooling as the new year begins.
Despite the soft data, hopes for a more dovish Federal Reserve gained traction. According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, the probability of a rate cut in April rose to 36.9%, up from 32.2% a day earlier. Markets still largely expect the Fed to hold rates steady until June, when Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Fed chair, could assume the role pending Senate approval.
Rate-sensitive sectors such as utilities and real estate outperformed, benefiting from the “bad news is good news” narrative tied to lower interest rate expectations. However, investors remained cautious ahead of the delayed nonfarm payrolls report, which could significantly influence market direction.
The Dow rose 52.27 points to 50,188.14, the S&P 500 fell 0.33% to 6,941.81, and the Nasdaq declined 0.59% to 23,102.47. Individual stocks saw sharp moves, with Datadog surging nearly 14% on strong earnings, Spotify jumping almost 15% on upbeat guidance, and S&P Global tumbling nearly 10% after issuing a weak profit forecast.
