Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Notes from WSJ:
- Japan's unemployment rate now sits near a 17-year low at 3.6%-a level that nearly qualifies as full employment, which traditionally would make wages rise
- But nonregular jobs have grown to 19.9 million from 18.2 million since Mr. Abe took office two years ago, while permanent, full-time positions have fallen to 32.7 million from 33.4 million
- Economists at the Japan Institute for Labor Policy and Training say the large and rising number of workers in nonregular jobs is a drag on the economy, depressing wage growth and consumer spending, which accounts for 60% of gross domestic product.
More at WSJ: Japan Has Plenty of Jobs, but Workers Still Struggle
