Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
The S&P 500 closed lower Friday in a sharp reversal after the White House confirmed that tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China would take effect Saturday. The Dow Jones fell 337 points (-0.8%), the S&P 500 dropped 0.5%, and the Nasdaq slid 0.3%, despite trading over 1% higher earlier in the day.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the U.S. will impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods and 10% on Chinese imports. Investors had hoped for a last-minute reversal of the decision, which caused uncertainty in the markets. Macquarie analysts had previously speculated that tariffs on Mexico and Canada wouldn’t take effect on February 1.
Meanwhile, inflation surged in December, with the PCE price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure, rising 0.3% month-over-month and 2.6% annually. Core PCE, excluding food and energy, increased 2.8% year-over-year. Personal spending also climbed 0.7%, surpassing forecasts of 0.5%, driven by a strong labor market and wage growth. The Fed, which left interest rates unchanged this week, continues to monitor inflationary trends.
In corporate news, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) closed lower despite forecasting sales growth in the low- to mid-single digits for Q2. Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) dipped 2.5% despite exceeding Q4 profit estimates. Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) lost 4.6% after missing revenue expectations. AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) jumped 5% on strong immunology drug sales, while Deckers Outdoor (NYSE: DECK) plummeted 20% following weak revenue guidance.
Market uncertainty persists as traders react to tariff concerns, inflation data, and earnings reports.
