Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Surge Toward Biggest Monthly Gains in Years Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
The U.S. dollar remained under pressure on Monday, extending losses near a two-month low, while the euro and British pound held relatively steady as investors awaited a series of critical central bank decisions this week. Currency markets were largely rangebound during early Asian trading, reflecting cautious sentiment ahead of major economic events, including U.S. inflation data and the highly anticipated nonfarm payrolls report.
The Japanese yen was little changed after a key Bank of Japan survey showed that business sentiment among large manufacturers rose to a four-year high. Despite the positive data, the yen slipped 0.1% to 155.94 per dollar. The survey reinforced expectations that the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates later this week, marking a potential shift in Japan’s long-standing ultra-loose monetary policy. Market participants are closely watching Governor Kazuo Ueda’s guidance for clues on the future pace of rate hikes. Analysts at Societe Generale expect the BOJ to raise rates this week and forecast the policy rate could reach 1% by July next year, followed by gradual and cautious tightening.
Attention is also firmly on Europe, with rate decisions from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank scheduled. Markets have largely priced in a Bank of England rate cut as UK inflation shows signs of easing, though upcoming inflation data could still influence expectations. Sterling dipped 0.17% to $1.3359, while the euro edged down 0.09% to $1.1730. The ECB is widely expected to keep rates unchanged, although traders have begun speculating about a possible rate hike in 2026.
In the United States, investors are preparing for a wave of delayed economic data following a historic government shutdown. The November jobs report and inflation figures are expected to provide fresh insight into the health of the U.S. economy. The dollar index stood at 98.43, struggling to regain momentum after last week’s decline.
Meanwhile, the Australian dollar slipped slightly to $0.6647, while the New Zealand dollar edged higher to $0.5807. The Federal Reserve’s recent 25-basis-point rate cut and cautious guidance from Chair Jerome Powell continue to shape global currency trends as markets head toward year-end.
