Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Confirms Haley and Pompeo Excluded from 2025 Administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not join his upcoming administration. Trump, currently preparing his cabinet ahead of the January 20 inauguration, stated on social media, “I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation. I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously and would like to thank them for their service to our country.”
Trump’s decision comes as he considers other candidates for top roles, including Scott Bessent, a prominent investor under consideration for U.S. Treasury Secretary, according to Reuters.
Haley, previously the South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, endorsed Trump’s 2024 candidacy despite their past political disagreements. Pompeo, a former CIA director and Secretary of State under Trump has been mentioned in media discussions as a potential defense secretary, though he declared in 2023 that he would not pursue the Republican presidential nomination.
Trump Taps Inaugural Co-Chairs
Trump also named real estate investor Steve Witkoff and former Senator Kelly Loeffler as co-chairs for his 2025 presidential inauguration. The announcement underscores his administration’s continued reliance on experienced campaign allies as he prepares for his second term.
