UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
The S&P 500 closed at 6,111.75, just shy of its record 6,118.71, slipping 0.1% on Friday as weak retail sales and inflation concerns curbed gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 166 points (-0.4%), while the NASDAQ Composite remained flat.
January retail sales fell 0.9%, exceeding forecasts of a 0.2% decline, after a 0.7% rise in December. Cold weather and Los Angeles wildfires contributed to the drop, raising concerns over consumer spending. Year-over-year sales rose 4.2%. Stifel projected a potential Q1 GDP revision below 2% due to a 0.8% fall in control group sales.
Despite hotter-than-expected CPI and PPI data this week, softer components in PPI may signal a milder PCE price index print—the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge—offering room for possible rate cuts. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, however, urged caution on easing monetary policy.
President Trump signed an executive order proposing reciprocal tariffs matching those from key trading partners, including the EU, South Korea, and Japan, though he delayed implementation for further investigations. This pause eased market concerns, despite existing 25% duties on steel and aluminum.
Hopes for an end to the Ukraine-Russia war lifted sentiment as leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference following Trump's announcement of upcoming peace talks.
In earnings news, Moderna (MRNA) climbed 3% despite a wider Q4 loss, driven by cost-cutting measures amid declining COVID-19 vaccine demand. GameStop (GME) rose 2.5% following reports of potential Bitcoin and cryptocurrency investments. Airbnb (ABNB) surged over 14% on strong Q4 earnings and increased first-time bookings. Roku (ROKU) jumped 14% after projecting strong ad revenue growth, driven by increased streaming platform demand.
This concise market update highlights key trends, earnings movers, and economic indicators impacting the financial landscape.
