U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade Thursday, extending recent declines as traders braced for higher U.S. crude production under President Donald Trump. Brent futures slipped 0.3% to $78.80 per barrel, while WTI futures fell 0.2% to $75.27.
Crude prices have dropped from six-month highs as uncertainty surrounding Trump’s energy and trade policies loomed. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas further eased geopolitical risk premiums. Meanwhile, cold weather across the U.S. and Europe increased heating demand, supporting prices. U.S. sanctions on Russia also contributed to tighter supply expectations.
American Petroleum Institute data revealed a 1-million-barrel rise in U.S. inventories last week, breaking a five-week streak of draws. Official inventory data due later Thursday could confirm this trend, though analysts expect crude inventories to have declined while product stockpiles grew.
Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency and his rollback of climate-related restrictions aim to boost production, which already hit record highs of 13 million barrels per day in 2024. Increased U.S.
