Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
US-India Trade Bombshell: Tariffs Slashed to 18% — Rupee Soars, Sensex Explodes 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Most Asian currencies traded within a tight range on Tuesday, while the U.S. dollar edged lower as renewed geopolitical concerns dampened investor appetite for American assets. Market sentiment turned cautious after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his demands regarding Greenland, including the possibility of tariffs on Europe and even potential military action, which unsettled global markets and pressured the greenback.
A U.S. market holiday on Monday resulted in limited overnight cues, keeping Asian markets subdued and largely risk-averse. Regional currencies showed little reaction to China’s central bank leaving its key loan prime rate unchanged, a move that was widely anticipated by investors. Meanwhile, attention shifted to Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced a snap election scheduled for early February, adding a layer of political uncertainty ahead of a closely watched Bank of Japan meeting later this week.
The Japanese yen remained muted, with the USD/JPY pair slipping slightly but staying near recent highs. While Prime Minister Takaichi’s strong approval ratings suggest continuity in leadership, markets are questioning how much room the government has for additional fiscal stimulus. Concerns over rising Japanese government bond yields weighed on the yen, even as investors debated whether the Bank of Japan will proceed with further interest rate hikes after its last increase in late 2025. Uncertainty around upcoming spring wage negotiations has also made traders cautious.
The U.S. dollar index and futures both declined modestly in Asian trading, reflecting unease over Trump’s Greenland stance ahead of his expected appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Asian currencies largely remained constrained by this risk-off mood. The Chinese yuan held near its strongest levels in over two years, supported by firm midpoint fixings from the People’s Bank of China. The Australian dollar and Taiwan dollar posted modest gains, benefiting from dollar weakness, while the South Korean won, Singapore dollar, and Indian rupee saw slight declines. The Indian rupee, in particular, hovered near the 91-per-dollar level amid growing concerns about India’s economic outlook.
Overall, Asian currency markets remained cautious, balancing regional economic signals against rising global political risks.
