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Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Australian shares surged to a record high on Friday, fueled by investor optimism over potential interest rate cuts next month following weaker-than-expected inflation data.
The S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 0.4% to 8,524.60 points as of 02:32 GMT, after hitting a new peak of 8,566.90 points earlier in the session. The index was on track for its strongest weekly gain since December.
Market sentiment turned bullish after Australia’s trimmed mean inflation—the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) preferred measure—fell to 3.2% in Q4 2024, below the forecasted 3.4%. This unexpected decline strengthened expectations that the RBA could cut interest rates as early as February 18 to ease mortgage pressures.
Analysts at ANZ (ASX:ANZ) and Westpac (ASX:WBC) predict a rate cut next month, with Westpac forecasting further reductions in May, August, and November, bringing the cash rate to 3.35% by year-end. However, both banks emphasized that RBA’s decisions remain data-dependent.
Gains were broad-based, with most sectors rallying. The ASX 300 Metals & Mining index jumped over 1%, led by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and BHP Group (ASX:BHP). The All Ordinaries Gold index rose 2.6% on firmer gold prices, while the ASX 200 Energy index gained alongside higher oil prices.
However, financial stocks remained subdued as lower interest rate expectations pressured the sector. Despite the strong market response, analysts caution that the RBA may take a cautious approach, ensuring inflation remains within the 2-3% target range before committing to further cuts.
