Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
President Joe Biden has rejected Nippon Steel’s $10B bid for U.S. Steel, citing risks to national security and American jobs. The decision, supported by union leaders and lawmakers, ends months of debate over the controversial takeover.
Biden Blocks Nippon Steel's Bid for US Steel
After more than a year of political bickering and discussion, U.S. President Joe Biden has finally decided to end the sale of U.S. Steel to Japan’s Nippon Steel, according to Thursday evening’s Washington Post report.
According to CBS News, Biden is expected to make a decision on the acquisition by Friday. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US forwarded the final decision to the White House in December.
Security Risks and Worker Layoffs Raise Concerns
Concerned that the deal might jeopardize U.S. steel supplies, Biden and a number of congressmen were strongly against it. Because it might reduce steelmaking capacity in the United States and cause layoffs, the United Steelworkers Union has also fought against the agreement.
Nippon Steel reportedly offered the government veto authority over any choices on domestic steel production in a last-ditch attempt to gain regulatory approval for the deal; this is reportedly followed by Biden's rejection of the proposal, Investing.com shares
US Steel Plans Workforce Training Center in Pennsylvania
The United States Steel Corporation (US Steel) said on Thursday that it would establish a workforce training center in Pennsylvania upon the completion of the takeover of Nippon Steel.
The two corporations reached an agreement in 2023 to integrate their operations, but the process has been repeatedly delayed owing to opposition from both lawmakers and employees.
It was also said that Nippon Steel was rushing to have the contract approved before the inauguration of President Trump in January. Trump had promised to veto the agreement.
