Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Russia’s stock market ended Saturday’s trading session largely unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index holding steady at 0.00%. Despite the flat performance, several major stocks posted small gains, particularly in the telecommunications and aviation sectors, offsetting minor declines in the energy segment.
Rostelekom PJSC (MCX:RTKM) led the session’s top performers, gaining 0.73% to close at ₽62.24, driven by steady investor confidence in the telecom sector. Aeroflot PJSC (MCX:AFLT) followed with a 0.64% increase to ₽52.13, reflecting cautious optimism in the travel industry amid stabilizing fuel prices. Tech giant IPJSC Yandex (MCX:YDEX) also edged up 0.52% to ₽4,085.00, supported by ongoing strength in the digital services market.
On the downside, energy heavyweights saw slight declines. TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin (MCX:TATN) slipped 0.30% to ₽560.80, while LUKOIL PJSC (MCX:LKOH) dropped 0.29% to ₽5,308.50. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX:SNGS) also fell 0.15% to ₽20.10. Overall, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners 150 to 62, with 26 remaining unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which gauges market volatility through MOEX options, was steady at 36.15, signaling a stable trading environment.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December climbed 0.47% to $4,009.80 per troy ounce, supported by a weaker dollar. Crude oil (December delivery) gained 0.54% to $59.75 per barrel, while Brent (January contract) rose 0.39% to $63.63.
Currency markets showed mild movement, with the USD/RUB slipping 0.37% to 80.95, and the EUR/RUB down 0.21% to 93.63. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell 0.11% to 99.47, reflecting cautious global sentiment.
