Asian Markets React to Tariff Reports and Fed Policy Shifts 
Key Date for Tariff Policy Changes 
Apple Surpasses Microsoft to Reclaim Title as World's Most Valuable Company 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Yen Near 40-Year Lows Despite BOJ Rate Hike, Markets Brace for Possible Intervention 
Trump to Impose Oil and Gas Tariffs by Feb. 18, Easing Canadian Crude Levy 
ECB Keeps July Rate Options Open Amid Iran War Energy Price Risks 
Tech Stocks Surge in Asia; Experts Warn ‘Cooling AI Boom May Hit NVIDIA’s Gains Hard’ 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide as U.S.-Iran Deal and Hormuz Reopening Ease Supply Concerns 
Indonesia Central Bank to Draft New Regulations After Expanded Economic Growth Mandate 
German Industry Employment Falls to Lowest Level in a Decade 
Oil Prices Surge Amid U.S. Sanctions on Russian Crude Exports 
Global Currencies Stabilize as U.S. Tariff Uncertainty Persists 
The yen experienced volatile trading after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised interest rates by 25 basis points at its policy meeting, aligning with market expectations. The currency settled at 156 per dollar, with investors awaiting BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's briefing for further guidance on rate hikes.
Other currencies saw notable movements, with the euro inching up 0.08% to 162.71 yen and the pound gaining 0.17% to 192.99 yen. Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.0% year-on-year in December, the fastest pace in 16 months, adding inflationary pressure.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars surged following U.S. President Donald Trump's softer stance on China tariffs, revealed during a Fox News interview. The Aussie climbed to $0.6321, while the kiwi reached $0.5708, both hitting five-week highs. These currencies, proxies for the Chinese yuan, benefited alongside the yuan itself, which hit its strongest levels since December at 7.2450 per dollar onshore and 7.2519 offshore.
Trump’s comments also triggered a broad decline in the U.S. dollar, which fell 0.23% to 107.89 against a basket of currencies, marking its worst weekly loss in two months. The euro rose 0.24% to $1.0441, and sterling advanced 0.32% to $1.2391, with both on track for strong weekly gains. Market sentiment shifted as investors priced out tariff risk premiums from the dollar.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin climbed 0.51% to $103,648.55, and Ether gained 1.75% to $3,305.51, as Trump announced a cryptocurrency task force to regulate digital assets and explore a national crypto stockpile, signaling a significant policy shift.
