Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, a widely expected move. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 slipped, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed higher as traders digested Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious outlook.
The central bank signaled two additional quarter-point cuts this year, citing concerns about labor market weakness. Powell acknowledged downside employment risks but emphasized the need to balance inflation management. According to LSEG data, markets had already priced in this rate cut. Michael Rosen, CIO at Angeles Investments, said Powell cooled expectations for aggressive easing, while the Fed raised its inflation forecast, underscoring its delicate policy challenge.
The Dow rose 260.42 points, or 0.57%, to 46,018.32, supported by financial stocks like American Express. The S&P 500 slipped 6.41 points, or 0.10%, to 6,600.35, and the Nasdaq lost 72.63 points, or 0.32%, to 22,261.33.
Wall Street’s recent rally, driven by hopes of lower rates and AI enthusiasm, now faces a test. Nvidia dragged on the Nasdaq, falling 2.6% after reports that China’s regulator ordered tech firms to halt purchases of its chips. Workday surged 7.2% following news of Elliott Management’s $2 billion stake, while Lyft jumped 13.1% after Alphabet’s Waymo announced autonomous ride-hailing plans in Nashville. Rival Uber dropped 5%.
Market breadth was slightly negative, with decliners outnumbering advancers on both the NYSE and Nasdaq. Trading volume hit 18.91 billion shares, above the 20-day average of 16.47 billion. The S&P 500 logged 18 new highs and five lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 122 highs and 45 lows.
