India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
The U.S. dollar wavered against the Japanese yen on Wednesday, pressured by a trade agreement between President Donald Trump and Japan that softened expected tariffs and boosted investor appetite for the yen. The dollar fell 0.5% overnight to trade near 146.61 yen, while the U.S. dollar index hovered at 97.430 after a three-day decline, down 6.6% since Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement dubbed “Liberation Day.”
Trump’s new deal imposes a 15% tariff on Japanese imports—down from the initially proposed 25%—and includes a pledge from Japan to invest $550 billion into the U.S. economy. The trade pact also opens Japan’s market to U.S. vehicles, rice, and other agricultural goods, resolving longstanding friction over key export sectors.
According to Moomoo Australia strategist Michael McCarthy, “Dollar softness seems to be our opening proposition,” noting dovish sentiment reflected in U.S. bond markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration’s focus on securing quality deals over sticking to strict deadlines, leaving room for flexibility.
Despite Wall Street's record highs, global forex markets remain rangebound due to lingering tariff uncertainty. The euro slipped 0.1% to $1.1739, while the British pound edged down to $1.35235. The Australian dollar held steady at $0.6557, and the New Zealand dollar inched up 0.1% to $0.60065.
Investor sentiment was also clouded by concerns over Federal Reserve independence. Trump has repeatedly criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell over interest rate policy. However, Bessent stated Powell does not need to resign and should finish his term if he chooses.
As trade developments unfold, the dollar faces increasing pressure amid geopolitical uncertainty and shifting investor sentiment.
