BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Indian Government Bonds Seen Opening Steady Ahead of RBI Policy Decision 
New Zealand Unemployment and Inflation Debate Intensifies Ahead of 2026 Election 
Gold Soars to One-Month High as Weak Jobs Data Fuels Fed Rate Cut Speculation 
ECB Set to Raise Interest Rates as Energy Shock Fuels Eurozone Inflation Concerns 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
Lithium Market Poised for Recovery Amid Supply Cuts and Rising Demand 
S&P 500 Rises Amid Cyclical Stock Gains, Inflation Data Looms 
US Stock Futures Jump on Reports of Preliminary US-Iran Peace Deal Despite Fed’s Hawkish Outlook 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Japan Trade Deficit Narrows as Exports Surge in May 
Oil Prices Drop as U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Eases Supply Concerns 
South Korea Signals Possible Interest Rate Hike as Inflation Remains Elevated 
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.
