South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
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Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
The Australian dollar surged to a 15-month high on Thursday, supported by improving global risk sentiment and a surprisingly strong domestic employment report that reshaped expectations for Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate policy. The Aussie climbed 0.4% to trade near $0.6791, breaking above key technical resistance at $0.6766 and opening the path toward higher targets around $0.6824 and the 2024 peak of $0.6943.
Investor confidence improved after signs of easing tensions between the United States and Europe. Comments from U.S. President Donald Trump indicating he would not pursue new tariffs on European countries and would refrain from using force to take Greenland helped lift global markets and risk-sensitive currencies such as the Australian dollar.
Domestic factors played an even larger role in the rally. Australia’s employment rose sharply by 65,200 jobs in December, more than double market expectations of a 30,000 increase and a strong rebound from the previous month’s decline. The unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.1%, its lowest level in seven months and well below the RBA’s forecast of 4.4%. These figures suggest the Australian economy is gaining momentum faster than policymakers had anticipated, supported by improving consumer spending and tight labor market conditions.
As a result, markets rapidly increased the probability of an RBA rate hike. Expectations for a 25-basis-point increase in the cash rate at the February 3 meeting jumped to 54% from 27% prior to the data, with a hike now fully priced in by May. Three-year Australian bond futures fell to their lowest levels since late 2023, reflecting shifting interest rate outlooks.
Attention now turns to upcoming inflation data for the December quarter. A rise in core inflation of 0.9% or more would further strengthen the case for near-term monetary tightening. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar also reached multi-month highs against the yen and the euro, while the New Zealand dollar firmed on broader optimism, highlighting renewed strength across Antipodean currencies.
