BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Asian currencies traded in narrow ranges on Tuesday as investors remained cautious ahead of a potential U.S. government shutdown, while the Australian dollar gained ground after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held interest rates steady at 3.60%.
The U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of major currencies, edged 0.1% higher, with Dollar Index Futures remaining flat in early Asian trading. Investors largely avoided big moves as markets await critical U.S. economic updates and clarity on the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
The RBA’s decision to pause rate adjustments came after three consecutive cuts earlier in 2025. Officials highlighted the need for more data on inflation and the labor market before shifting policy again, underscoring a data-dependent approach. The move pushed the Australian dollar’s AUD/USD pair 0.5% higher, reflecting renewed market confidence.
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms in Washington as Congress faces a deadline to approve funding and prevent a partial government shutdown. A shutdown could delay the release of crucial economic reports, including Friday’s non-farm payrolls—a key indicator for Federal Reserve decision-making. Upcoming U.S. data this week includes the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), weekly jobless claims, and payroll numbers.
Elsewhere in Asia, most regional currencies remained steady. The Japanese yen’s USD/JPY pair held flat, the Singapore dollar’s USD/SGD edged up 0.1%, the South Korean won gained 0.2%, while the Indian rupee and Chinese yuan showed little movement.
Economic data also weighed on sentiment. Japan reported a 1.2% drop in factory output for August, marking the second straight month of decline, alongside the sharpest retail sales fall in four years. In China, official PMI data showed manufacturing activity contracting for a sixth consecutive month, though a private RatingDog survey signaled an improvement driven by stronger orders and exports.
Overall, traders remain cautious, balancing regional economic weakness with global uncertainties, particularly the looming U.S. government shutdown and its impact on key economic data releases.
