Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
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 
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 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
The U.S. dollar slumped to an eight-week low against the yen and hovered near a one-month low versus the British pound as trade war fears eased. Investors are reassessing the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook while the Bank of Japan signals further rate hikes.
By 0140 GMT, the dollar dropped 0.5% to 151.81 yen, extending Wednesday’s 1.1% decline. The yen strengthened following strong wage data and BOJ board member Naoki Tamura’s remarks that rates must rise to at least 1% by late 2025. Markets now expect a quarter-point BOJ hike by September with a 94.8% probability.
Sterling held firm at $1.2509, after touching $1.2550, its highest since January 7, despite a widely anticipated Bank of England rate cut. Market-implied odds for an immediate BoE rate reduction stand at 92%.
The euro remained steady at $1.0401, after a modest 0.2% gain on Wednesday. The dollar index stood at 107.57, near its overnight low of 107.29, after retreating from a three-week peak of 109.88 earlier in the week. U.S. trade tensions eased after last-minute tariff reprieves for Mexico and Canada, although Washington imposed 10% tariffs on China.
The offshore yuan edged up to 7.2775 per dollar, while the Canadian dollar steadied at C$1.4321, near its highest level since December 17. The Mexican peso held firm at 20.5789 per dollar.
Market focus now shifts to Friday’s U.S. payroll report. Traders have priced in a full quarter-point Fed cut by July and 46.3 basis points of easing by December, according to LSEG data. However, diminishing trade-related inflation risks could allow the Fed more policy flexibility.
