Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Oil prices held steady on Friday after a more than 1% drop in the previous session, as traders weighed the impact of newly announced U.S. tariffs and potential disruptions to Russian crude exports.
Brent crude futures inched up 0.06% to $71.74 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 0.01% to $69.27 by 1201 GMT. Despite the flat movement, Brent is on track to gain 4.9% for the week, with WTI set for a 6.4% weekly rise.
The rally earlier in the week followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 100% secondary tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil, specifically targeting China and India. Analysts warn such measures could disrupt up to 2.75 million barrels per day of Russian seaborne exports, potentially tightening global supply.
Attention shifted Friday to Trump’s broader tariff move. The president signed an executive order raising import duties to between 10% and 41% on dozens of trading partners, including Canada, India, and Taiwan, effective August 1. These higher tariffs could weigh on global economic growth and dampen fuel demand by driving up consumer prices.
Recent U.S. inflation data already shows price pressures from earlier tariffs, particularly in imported goods like furniture and recreation products. Rising inflation is expected to delay any Federal Reserve interest rate cuts until at least October, maintaining higher borrowing costs and limiting growth — factors that could restrain oil consumption.
While tariffs raise concerns over demand, fears of supply disruption from potential sanctions on Russian crude continue to provide upward support for oil markets, keeping prices volatile amid escalating geopolitical and trade tensions.
