German Exports Drop 2.3% in January, Exceeding Forecast Decline 
Gold Prices Steady in Asian Trade as Strong Dollar and Rising Yields Weigh on Bullion 
Oil Prices Surge as Strait of Hormuz Disruption and Middle East Conflict Threaten Global Supply 
Japan's BOJ Independence Under Fire as PM Takaichi's Rate Stance Draws Political Heat 
RBA Rate Decision: Deputy Governor Signals Genuine Debate Ahead of March Meeting 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Slams JPMorgan Report on Gulf Oil Insurance as ‘Completely Irresponsible’ 
Asian Currencies Face Pressure as U.S.-Iran Conflict Weighs on Markets 
China's Trade Surplus Surges Past Forecasts in Early 2026 
Asian Stocks Rebound as Oil Prices Fall and Trump Signals Iran Conflict Resolution 
Chinese Electric Freight Trucks Are Disrupting Europe's Market in 2026 
Chinese AI Stocks Surge as Tencent, MiniMax, and Zhipu Launch Agentic AI Programs 
Dollar Gains as Middle East Conflict Boosts Safe-Haven Demand, Oil Prices and Inflation Concerns Rise 
U.S. Solar Market Contracts in 2025 as Trump Rolls Back Renewable Energy Incentives 
Oil Prices Surge as Middle East Conflict Disrupts Global Supply 
Federal Judge Orders Refund of Trump’s Emergency Tariffs, Potentially Returning Up to $182 Billion 
U.S. Stocks Fall as Middle East Tensions Lift Oil Prices and AI Chip Export Rules Hit Tech Sector 
Gold Prices Climb Amid U.S.-Iran War Uncertainty and Oil Supply Fears 
The U.S. dollar regained its footing against major currencies on Tuesday after pulling back from recent highs, following President Donald Trump's statement that the Iran conflict could conclude "very soon." Despite the partial recovery, global financial markets remain on edge as Iran's Revolutionary Guards publicly rejected Trump's remarks as "nonsense," keeping geopolitical tensions firmly in focus.
In Asian trading, the greenback held at 157.73 yen and $1.1632 per euro, retreating slightly from Monday's peaks. The currency had surged earlier as investors sought safe-haven assets amid fears that an extended Iran war could trigger a severe global energy crisis. U.S. and Israeli military operations have effectively halted oil and gas exports through the critical Strait of Hormuz, sending energy prices into overdrive.
Brent crude futures were trading around $93 per barrel — significantly above pre-conflict levels, though retreating from Monday's near $120 peak. Analysts warn the energy market volatility is far from over. Rodrigo Catril, senior currency strategist at National Australia Bank, cautioned that the path to de-escalation remains uncertain, noting that whether Iran would be open to winding down hostilities is still unclear.
Risk-sensitive currencies bore the brunt of the uncertainty, with the Australian dollar slipping 0.2% to $0.7063 and the New Zealand dollar falling 0.4% to $0.5912. Sterling managed to recover from Monday's losses, holding steady at $1.3434.
Investors are increasingly concerned that persistently high energy prices could dampen global economic growth by driving up business costs and reducing consumer spending, while simultaneously discouraging central banks from cutting interest rates.
Deutsche Bank strategist Henry Allen noted that while markets are inching closer to the thresholds that would trigger broader risk-asset selloffs, equities have yet to reach bear-market territory seen during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine energy shock.
