U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
In January 2025, the U.S. economy added 143,000 jobs, which was below the expected 169,000. The unemployment rate declined by a small percentage to 4.0%. Health care, retail, and social assistance gained jobs, but the mining and oil industries lost jobs. Job numbers for November and December were revised to be better than reported. The average workweek of all workers fell by 0.1 hour to 34.1 hours, while earnings per hour were up by 3.9% since a year ago.
Canada, however, created 76,000 jobs in January, much better than anticipated. The unemployment rate fell to 6.6%. The country saw more young people at work, more jobs for women, and more men aged 25 to 54. Manufacturing jobs were added most, 33,000, and average hourly wages grew 3.5% to $35.99. Total hours worked rose too.
The University of Michigan's February report showed an inflation expectation rise where 1-year expectations reached a record high since November 2023 to 4.3% compared to 3.3%. Five-year expectations, however, rose very slightly from 3.2% to 3.3%. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment hit its lowest point since July, after it went down to 67.8, while economists targeted an increase of 74 from January 71.1.
Markets look for US inflation, GDP, and Powell's testimony for further direction next week.
