Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
U.S. stock index futures were steady on Tuesday evening following a volatile Wall Street session, as investors assessed renewed U.S.-China trade tensions, major bank earnings, and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
S&P 500 Futures hovered near 6,686.75 points, while Nasdaq 100 Futures slipped 0.1% to 24,745.75 points. Dow Jones Futures remained flat at 46,498.0 points. In regular trading, the S&P 500 edged 0.2% lower, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.4%.
Market sentiment has grown more cautious after President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in retaliation for Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports. Tensions escalated as Trump accused China of “purposefully not buying” U.S. soybeans and floated cutting trade ties in the cooking-oil sector, calling Beijing’s actions “economically hostile.” In response, China sanctioned five U.S.-linked subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, a move seen as retaliation amid a U.S. probe into China’s shipbuilding dominance. Both nations have also imposed reciprocal port fees, intensifying maritime trade friction.
Amid the tense backdrop, Powell’s remarks at the National Association for Business Economics provided some relief. He noted that the outlook for inflation and employment remains broadly unchanged since September but acknowledged signs of a softening labor market. His comments were perceived as dovish, bolstering expectations for additional rate cuts later in 2025.
Earnings season also added to the market’s mixed tone. Goldman Sachs reported strong investment banking results, while JPMorgan raised its full-year net interest income forecast. Wells Fargo also topped profit estimates on improved credit performance. Investor focus now shifts to upcoming reports from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, which could further influence market momentum.
