China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Most Asian currencies traded in tight ranges on Friday, showing limited gains despite a weaker U.S. dollar, as market sentiment stayed cautious amid ongoing equity market sell-offs. The Chinese yuan slipped after data revealed the country’s exports contracted for the first time since March 2024, while its trade surplus narrowed unexpectedly, signaling continued economic headwinds.
The USD/CNY pair rose about 0.1% after October’s trade figures highlighted slowing export growth due to persistent trade frictions with the U.S., which eased only after a late-October agreement. Imports also rose at a slower pace, underlining weak domestic demand in China, the world’s second-largest economy.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar retreated from recent three-month highs following weak employment data. Reports from Challenger, Gray & Christmas showed U.S. job cuts surged to over 150,000 in October — the highest in 20 years — amplifying fears of a cooling labor market. Traders are now pricing in a 65.8% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, up from 59.8% a day earlier, according to CME FedWatch. The greenback’s weakness came as investors focused more on private labor data amid a delayed release of official figures due to a prolonged U.S. government shutdown.
In Japan, the yen weakened as disappointing wage and spending data dampened hopes for near-term interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan. The USD/JPY pair gained slightly on Friday but was still down 0.6% for the week.
Across the region, other Asian currencies traded mixed. The USD/SGD rose 0.1%, USD/TWD dipped 0.1%, while USD/KRW climbed 0.5% as foreign capital outflows hit South Korean equities. The AUD/USD slipped 0.1%, and the USD/INR held steady above 88 rupees.
