Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Global markets advanced Monday as weak U.S. labor data boosted expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut this month. Stocks rose and the dollar wavered, while gold hovered near record highs and Treasury yields stayed close to five-month lows. The U.S. economy added far fewer jobs than forecast in August, cementing bets on monetary easing.
Political uncertainty in Japan added volatility after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned, raising questions over future fiscal and monetary policy. Investors are closely watching who will succeed him, with Liberal Democratic Party veteran Sanae Takaichi seen as a potential candidate. A supporter of looser policies, Takaichi has criticized recent Bank of Japan rate hikes. The yen weakened 0.6% to 148.39 per dollar, while the Nikkei surged 1.8%, nearing record highs.
In broader Asia, MSCI’s regional index gained 0.4%, while Chinese blue chips rose 0.3% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.35%. U.S. S&P 500 futures climbed 0.19%, and European futures rose 0.45%.
The Fed is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points in September, though traders are pricing an 8% chance of a larger 50 bps move, with 68 bps of easing anticipated by year-end. Analysts argue lower rates are necessary to keep U.S. equities supported against global peers.
In Europe, political risks remain high as French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces a confidence vote likely to fail, deepening the euro zone’s second-largest economy’s crisis. The euro eased to $1.1713, while sterling traded at $1.3492.
Commodities extended gains, with gold at $3,588 per ounce, close to the $3,600 mark after rallying 37% this year. Oil also advanced about 1% as OPEC+ pledged slower output hikes from October amid weaker demand expectations.
