South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
The euro soared to a five-month high, reaching $1.0947 in New York before stabilizing at $1.0913 in Asia, following Ukraine’s agreement to a month-long ceasefire proposal. European equity futures climbed, with FTSE futures up 0.3%, while Russia’s rouble hit a seven-month high.
Market volatility persisted as U.S. tariff uncertainty fueled concerns over economic slowdown. Wall Street’s S&P 500 slipped 0.8%, nearing a 10% decline from February’s peak, as President Donald Trump threatened then retracted a tariff hike on Canadian steel and aluminium. Investors fear the back-and-forth on trade policies will disrupt economic growth.
Asia-Pacific shares rose 0.2%, with China and Hong Kong markets steady, while Japan’s Nikkei held firm after hitting a six-month low. Meanwhile, travel stocks tumbled after Delta Air Lines halved its profit forecast, with United and American Airlines warning of deteriorating demand. Retailers also struggled—Kohl’s Corp plunged 24%, and Dick’s Sporting Goods fell 5.7% on weak sales reports.
The Canadian dollar hit a one-week low before recovering to C$1.443, ahead of a key central bank meeting where a seventh consecutive rate cut is in focus. The U.S. dollar weakened, Treasuries rallied, and the yen dipped from a five-month high, trading around 148 per dollar. The Australian dollar remained under pressure at 63 U.S. cents, while Brent crude hovered near $70 a barrel.
Investors await U.S. inflation data for February, though its impact from tariffs may be minimal. As uncertainty lingers over global markets, traders closely watch economic indicators and policy shifts that could dictate the next market moves.
