Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
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.
