Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
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.
