Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Asian shares fell on Friday after the U.S. imposed steep tariffs on dozens of trading partners, heightening market uncertainty ahead of crucial U.S. jobs data that could determine the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Thursday implementing tariffs of 10% to 41% on imports from multiple countries. India faces 25%, Taiwan 20%, Thailand 19%, and South Korea 15%. Tariffs on Canadian goods rose to 35% from 25% for items not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact, while Mexico received a 90-day exemption to negotiate a broader deal. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te described the tariffs as temporary and expected reductions once agreements are reached.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan dropped 0.7%, extending weekly losses to 1.8%. South Korea’s KOSPI plunged 3%, Taiwan’s benchmark slipped 0.9%, Japan’s Nikkei declined 0.4%, while China’s blue chips were flat and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng edged up 0.2%.
European and U.S. futures also weakened, with EUROSTOXX 50, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 futures down 0.2%. Wall Street retreated overnight after Amazon reported disappointing earnings, sinking 6.6% after hours, while Apple gained 2.4% on stronger-than-expected revenue guidance.
Investors are closely watching July’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls, expected to rise by 110,000, with unemployment seen at 4.2%. A stronger-than-expected report could reduce chances of a September Fed rate cut, now priced at 39%, down from 65% earlier this week.
The dollar index climbed 2.5% this week to a two-month high of 100.1, while the yen weakened to 150.7 per dollar. U.S. Treasury yields held steady, oil prices hovered near $70, and gold traded around $3,286 an ounce.
