Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
CaixaBank will acquire state-owned Bankia in an all-share deal that would create Spain's largest bank with total assets exceeding $786.6 billion.
The deal will help the companies tackle dwindling profitability due to the pandemic.
The deal values Bankia $5.1 billion, according to Jefferies analysts.
The new entity will have 20 million customers and a quarter of all loans and deposits in Spain.
Santander and BBVA, which have extensive overseas operations, are currently Spain's largest banks.
CaixaBank and Bankia expect the combined entity will benefit from cost savings of $911.8 million a year. They are targeting additional revenue of $343 million.
The move could signal the start of further consolidation in Europe's beleaguered banking sector.
Europe's banks had to raise billions of dollars to cover bad debts and contend with ultra-low interest rates as they endure one of the worst global recessions this year.
According to Jefferies analyst Benjie Creelan-Sandford, banks need to improve profitability by benefitting from the scale and extract synergies from mergers.
Creelan-Sandford expects more consolidation among European banks.
Swiss bank UBS is reportedly examining a potential deal with rival Credit Suisse. A merger of Deutsche Bank, Germany's largest lender, and its competitor Commerzbank was on the table as of last year.
