India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Russian equities ended Saturday’s session largely unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index holding steady at 0.00%. Market activity reflected mixed performances across key sectors on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) led gainers, adding 0.63% to close at 1,926.60, followed by Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM), which climbed 0.63% to 7.22. Unipro PJSC (MCX:UPRO) also advanced 0.61% to 1.48. In contrast, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) fell 0.70% to 15.76, while PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) dropped 0.63% to 614.40 and VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) slipped 0.34% to 324.30.
Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners 101 to 42, with six issues remaining unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), tracking implied volatility for MOEX options, stayed flat at 34.30.
Commodity markets saw broader weakness. Gold futures for August delivery dropped 1.12% to $3,335.60 per troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery fell 1.32% to $65.16 a barrel, while Brent oil for September slid 1.07% to $68.44.
Currency movements were modest. The U.S. dollar gained 0.20% against the ruble to 79.41, while the euro rose 0.15% to 93.24. The U.S. Dollar Index futures climbed 0.29% to 97.40, signaling continued dollar strength amid global commodity pressures.
The flat close of Russia’s main stock benchmark highlights ongoing investor caution as commodity volatility and currency fluctuations weigh on market sentiment. Traders remain attentive to global economic signals, with energy and gold price trends likely to influence Russian market direction in the coming sessions.
