Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
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 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian share markets moved higher at the start of the week, following strong tech-led gains on Wall Street, while the Japanese yen continued to weaken sharply against major currencies despite a significant interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Trading volumes remained light due to a holiday-shortened global schedule, but investor sentiment leaned positive as markets looked ahead to key U.S. economic data.
Futures for major U.S. indices pointed upward, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures extending gains, reflecting ongoing optimism around technology stocks. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei jumped around 1.5%, benefiting from the yen’s steep decline, which tends to support export-heavy Japanese companies by improving overseas earnings. Broader regional markets also advanced, with MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan posting moderate gains, while South Korean stocks outperformed on expectations of strong AI-related earnings.
Attention remains focused on delayed U.S. GDP data, which is expected to show solid third-quarter growth of around 3.2% on an annualized basis. However, some caution is emerging. Analysts have warned that investor sentiment has reached extremely bullish levels, historically associated with short-term market pullbacks. Recent fund flow data showed record inflows into global equity markets, particularly U.S. stocks, while bond inflows continued to slow, highlighting a strong risk-on bias among investors.
In currency markets, the yen hit record lows against the euro and Swiss franc, even after the Bank of Japan raised interest rates to their highest level in three decades. The move triggered selling pressure in Japanese government bonds, pushing 10-year yields to levels not seen since the late 1990s. The dollar also remained firm against the yen, keeping markets on alert for potential intervention by Japanese authorities.
Commodities saw notable moves as well. Silver surged to a fresh all-time high, extending its remarkable gains for the year, while gold edged higher amid ongoing market uncertainty. Oil prices climbed after reports of U.S. actions against Venezuelan oil shipments, adding supply concerns to the market. Overall, global markets remain buoyant, though elevated valuations and extreme optimism are beginning to test investor confidence.
