South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
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 
Indian Rupee Strengthens Sharply After U.S.-India Trade Deal Announcement 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Russian equities closed flat on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending unchanged at 0.00%. Market activity saw mixed performances among major stocks, as gains in financials and metals offset minor losses elsewhere.
Bank VTB PJSC (MCX:VTBR) emerged as the top performer, climbing 2.17% to 82.76. Moskovskaya Birzha PJSC (MCX:MOEX) followed with a 1.84% gain to 177.20, while MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC (MCX:GMKN) advanced 1.68% to close at 117.30, buoyed by investor sentiment in the mining sector.
Conversely, diamond miner AK ALROSA PJSC (MCX:ALRS) slipped 0.19% to 46.46. Fertilizer giant PhosAgro PJSC (MCX:PHOR) declined 0.16% to 6,247.00, and Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM) edged down 0.14% to 7.05.
Overall, advancing stocks outnumbered decliners on the Moscow Exchange, with 124 stocks gaining, 23 losing, and 2 closing flat. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), tracking implied market volatility via MOEX options, remained unchanged at 30.06.
In commodities, gold futures for August rose 0.39% to $3,358.30 per troy ounce, driven by ongoing global uncertainty. Crude oil prices slipped, with August WTI down 0.30% to $67.34 per barrel, and September Brent declining 0.35% to $69.28, reflecting cautious sentiment in energy markets.
Currency markets showed the ruble weakening, with USD/RUB up 0.85% to 78.71 and EUR/RUB gaining 1.11% to 91.51. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index futures dropped 0.25% to 98.20, signaling mild pressure on the greenback amid broader market consolidation.
