Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
German Auto Suppliers Turn Bearish as Investment and Jobs Shift Overseas 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Japan Signals Readiness to Intervene as USD/JPY Nears 161 Amid Yen Weakness 
China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Japan Inflation Stays Below BOJ Target Despite Rate Hike and Rising Energy Cost Risks 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Friday, taking cues from a mixed close on Wall Street overnight as investors remained cautious ahead of the closely watched U.S. nonfarm payrolls report. The upcoming U.S. jobs data is expected to play a crucial role in shaping expectations around future Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, keeping global market sentiment subdued.
U.S. stocks ended Thursday with little overall movement. Technology stocks slipped after recent gains, placing pressure on the Nasdaq, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 closed nearly unchanged. Wall Street index futures were also largely flat during Asian trading hours, reflecting investor uncertainty before the key labor market release.
Across Asia, stock markets mirrored this cautious tone. South Korea’s KOSPI index traded flat after reaching record highs earlier in the week, driven by semiconductor sector gains. Shares of major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix declined between 1.5% and 3%, weighing on the index. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained flat. Futures for India’s Nifty 50 also showed little change.
Japanese equities stood out as regional outperformers. The Nikkei 225 climbed 1%, and the broader TOPIX index gained 0.3%. The rally was supported by a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar, which improved earnings prospects for export-focused companies and boosted investor confidence in Japanese stocks.
In China, fresh economic data offered cautious optimism. Official figures showed that China’s consumer price index rose 0.8% year-on-year in December, marking its fastest pace in nearly three years. Monthly inflation increased 0.2%, while producer price deflation eased, suggesting stabilization in factory-gate prices. These trends indicate that China may be nearing the end of a prolonged deflationary phase that has weighed on economic growth, corporate profits, and consumer spending.
Chinese equities responded positively, with the CSI 300 index gaining 0.3% and the Shanghai Composite rising 0.6%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, however, traded flat. Overall, Asian markets remained cautious but resilient as investors awaited clearer signals from U.S. economic data and global monetary policy direction.
