Iraq Seeks 6 Million Bpd OPEC+ Oil Quota 
UK House Prices Fall for First Time Since 2023 
Iran Plans New Gulf Restricted Zone as Hormuz Tensions Push Oil Higher 
Japanese Yen Nears Seven-Month High as Oil Approaches $100 
Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
Iran Vows Tougher Response as U.S. Sanctions Squeeze Economy 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Infrastructure 
Oil Prices Rally as Brent Nears $100 on U.S.-Iran Escalation 
Asian Stocks Mixed as AI Chip Rally Meets Oil Surge 
US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles as Trade War Escalates 
ECB Set for September Rate Hike as Energy Prices Fuel Inflation 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
South Korea GDP Surges on Chip and AI Boom 
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Japan’s exports grew for the fourth straight month in January, signaling a resilient economic recovery despite looming U.S. tariff threats. Data released Wednesday showed a 7.2% year-on-year increase, slightly below the 7.9% market forecast, but a strong improvement from December’s 2.8% rise.
Exports to China declined 6.2%, while shipments to the U.S. rose 8.1%, highlighting shifting trade dynamics. Imports surged 16.7%, exceeding the expected 9.7% rise, leading to a trade deficit of 2.759 trillion yen ($18.16 billion), wider than the projected 2.1 trillion yen shortfall.
The latest trade report follows robust GDP data, which showed faster-than-expected growth in Q4, bolstering expectations for continued interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan. However, uncertainty looms as President Donald Trump considers imposing a 25% tariff on imported cars and retaliatory duties on countries taxing U.S. imports.
Japan, heavily reliant on exports, faces risks as the U.S. remains its largest trading partner, accounting for a fifth of total exports valued at $700 billion. While Japan maintains one of the lowest average tariff rates globally, its non-tariff barriers, such as automobile safety regulations, may face heightened scrutiny.
Automobiles remain a key sector, comprising 28% of U.S.-bound Japanese exports. Meanwhile, Trump has pressed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to address Japan’s $68.5 billion trade surplus with the U.S.
Despite strong exports driving economic growth, analysts caution that rising inflation in food and essential goods could weigh on consumer spending, potentially slowing recovery momentum.
Japan led foreign direct investment in the U.S. in 2023, with $783.3 billion, surpassing Canada and Germany, according to U.S. Commerce Department data.
