Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
S&P 500 Rises as AI Stocks and Small Caps Rally on Strong Earnings Outlook 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
China and Uruguay Strengthen Strategic Partnership Amid Shifting Global Order 
The U.S. dollar hovered near multi-year lows on Wednesday as markets weighed dovish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and concerns over the fiscal impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending bill. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, edged up to 96.677 but remained close to Tuesday’s 16-month low of 96.373.
Powell, speaking at the European Central Bank’s forum in Sintra, Portugal, signaled a patient stance on interest rate cuts while leaving the door open for a potential reduction this month. Traders are now focused on Thursday’s U.S. non-farm payrolls report, following labor market resilience shown in the latest JOLTS data, which gave the dollar a modest lift.
The euro held firm at $1.1802 after peaking at $1.1829 overnight, its highest since September 2021. The Swiss franc remained strong, with the dollar trading at 0.7906 after hitting 0.7873—its weakest since January 2015. Sterling edged higher to $1.37435, nearing October 2021 levels.
Meanwhile, Trump’s recently passed Senate bill, projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national debt, raised concerns about ballooning U.S. fiscal deficits and bond issuance. Analysts say increased government spending could weigh further on Treasury markets and the dollar.
Additional pressure came from Trump’s criticism of Powell, including a handwritten note suggesting the U.S. interest rate should fall between Japan’s 0.5% and Denmark’s 1.75%, accusing the Fed Chair of being “too late” again.
Against the yen, the dollar inched up 0.1% to 143.59, recovering slightly from a 0.4% drop in the previous session.
Investors now await upcoming economic data to gauge the Fed’s next move and its impact on the dollar’s trajectory.
