Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Asian stock markets climbed on Friday, mirroring Wall Street gains, as expectations of multiple U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts lifted investor sentiment worldwide. Lower borrowing costs are seen as a major relief for global bond markets, while the U.S. dollar eased slightly.
Indexes in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan hit record highs, supported by optimism around artificial intelligence earnings. Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.6% for the day and 3.7% for the week, while South Korea jumped 1.1%, adding more than 5% weekly. Chinese blue chips reached their strongest levels since early 2022, while MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan gained 1.2%.
The latest U.S. inflation data showed consumer prices staying moderate, reinforcing expectations of policy easing. Analysts at Citi now forecast core PCE inflation holding at 2.9% in August, supporting their outlook for 125 basis points of Fed cuts over the next five meetings. Markets are pricing in a 100% chance of a September cut to 4.00%-4.25%, with a strong likelihood of additional reductions this year. U.S. Treasury yields fell 20 basis points in two weeks, easing mortgage rates and boosting risk appetite.
European shares also rallied, with EUROSTOXX 50, FTSE, and DAX futures up 0.3%. The European Central Bank kept rates unchanged, calling policy “in a good place.” Analysts at JPMorgan expect a possible cut in December, though markets see limited odds of further easing.
In currency trade, the dollar held at 147.23 yen, while the euro firmed near $1.1730. Gold stayed steady at $3,633 an ounce, just below record highs. Oil prices weakened, with Brent at $66.09 and U.S. crude at $62.07, after the IEA warned of a record surplus in 2025 as OPEC output rises.
