U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead of Holiday as Investors Await Key Economic Data 
Oil Prices Steady but Head for Weekly Loss as Supply Glut Concerns Weigh 
Yen Pulls Back After Rally as Fed Rate Cut Bets Support Dollar Stability 
U.S. Inflation Cools in January as Gas Prices Fall, Core CPI Signals Sticky Price Pressures 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Stabilizes Ahead of U.S. CPI Data 
MOEX Russia Index Closes Flat as Gold Surges and Ruble Strengthens 
Oil Prices Steady as Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks and OPEC+ Output Plans Shape Market Outlook 
Gold Prices Steady Above $5,000 as Markets Eye Fed Minutes and PCE Inflation Data 
Asian Markets Consolidate Gains as Japan GDP Disappoints and Fed Rate Cut Bets Rise 
UK House Prices Hold Steady in February as Rightmove Reports Post-Budget Market Stability 
Japan GDP Growth Slows Sharply in Q4 2025 Amid Weak Business Spending and Trade Tensions 
Yen Surges After Takaichi Election Win as Markets Eye U.S. Inflation Data 
Gold and Silver Prices Slip After Strong U.S. Jobs Data, Fed Rate Cut Bets Fade 
BOJ Governor Ueda Meets PM Takaichi as Markets Eye Possible Rate Hike 
Japan Coalition Urges BOJ Independence as Sales Tax Cut Plan Advances 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as US-Iran Tensions and Strong Payroll Data Shape Market Sentiment 
Ukraine Secures $8.2 Billion IMF Loan as Tax Conditions Are Eased 
Asian currencies weakened on Thursday as a stronger US dollar and hawkish signals from Federal Reserve officials weighed on regional foreign exchange markets. The South Korean won and Indian rupee led losses, while the Australian dollar outperformed after resilient domestic employment data supported expectations of further rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
The US Dollar Index rose 0.1% after surging roughly 0.6% in the previous session, reflecting renewed demand for the greenback. US Dollar Index futures also climbed 0.1% in early Asian trading. The dollar’s strength followed the release of Federal Reserve meeting minutes, which indicated policymakers remain cautious about inflation and are prepared to keep interest rates higher for longer. Some officials even signaled openness to additional rate hikes if price pressures persist.
The hawkish tone reinforced expectations that US monetary policy will remain restrictive in the near term, placing pressure on higher-beta Asian currencies. Investors are now closely watching the upcoming US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index data, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, for further clues on the future interest rate path.
In currency markets, the USD/KRW pair jumped 0.6%, highlighting weakness in the South Korean won. The USD/INR gained 0.4%, while the offshore Chinese yuan saw USD/CNH edge up 0.2%. The Singapore dollar also slipped, with USD/SGD ticking 0.1% higher. The Japanese yen weakened as USD/JPY rose 0.2%. Trading volumes remained subdued across parts of Asia due to Lunar New Year holidays, contributing to thinner liquidity conditions.
In contrast, the Australian dollar gained ground, with AUD/USD rising 0.2% after data showed Australia’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% in January. Although employment growth slowed, the stable jobless rate signaled a tight labor market. This strengthened expectations that the RBA will maintain its hawkish stance following its recent rate increase, offering relative support to the Aussie dollar amid broader regional currency weakness.
