BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
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 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Asian shares surged on Friday, buoyed by upbeat U.S. earnings, easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, and renewed optimism for global growth. Japan’s Nikkei led regional gains, jumping 1.2%, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan climbed 0.5%. Investor sentiment strengthened after the White House confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week during his Asia tour, raising hopes of progress in trade talks ahead of a looming tariff deadline.
Intel’s quarterly results exceeded market expectations, further boosting confidence in the U.S. corporate earnings outlook. Following the announcement, Intel shares surged in after-hours trading, adding momentum to Wall Street futures, with the S&P 500 e-minis up 0.12%.
Currency markets reflected modest movements, with the U.S. dollar index gaining 0.1% to 99.00, while the euro slipped to $1.161 and the yen weakened to 152.85 per dollar. Investors now await key U.S. consumer price data due Friday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s next policy decision. Despite the ongoing government shutdown—now in its 23rd day—the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed it would release the CPI report to assist in cost-of-living adjustments.
In Asia, Japan’s core consumer inflation rose 2.9% in September, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan may consider tightening policy soon. Newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is also expected to unveil a stimulus plan to bolster the economy.
Oil prices eased after strong weekly gains, with U.S. crude down 0.7% to $61.38 a barrel and Brent at $65.55, following fresh U.S. sanctions on Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Meanwhile, bitcoin gained 0.8% to $110,512, and gold edged up 0.3% to $4,138 per ounce, despite heading for its weakest week since May.
