Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
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 
Japan and China are hopeful that the easing of border controls and compulsory 14-day quarantine requirements to expedite their economic recoveries.
The two countries started accepting visa applications for business travel despite a rapid resurgence of infections in Japan.
Under the agreement, both countries will exempt businesspeople on short-term visits from the usual 14-day quarantine period upon arrival.
However, they must test negative for the coronavirus and submit an itinerary in advance.
The requirements remain in effect for expatriates and other long-term residents.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the relaxation of travel restrictions will accelerate the pace of resumption of companies' manufacturing activities.
For his part, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he expects the resumption of travel to contribute to promoting human exchanges, despite coming under difficult circumstances.
Motegi and Wang reached an agreement to resume business travel by the end of this month.
Officials of major Japanese manufacturers welcomed the easing of border controls with China, saying they can move forward with product development, the launching of new projects, and capital investments that were stalled by the pandemic-triggered travel restrictions.
Airlines likewise welcomed the development.
An official of ANA Holdings Inc. said that they are hoping that full-scale traffic between the two countries is realized as soon as possible.
ANA Holdings' unit All Nippon Airways Co. will start flights between Japan and Shenzhen, China, in December.
China accounted for the largest number of Japan's foreign visitors in 2019.
According to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization, there were 9.59 million people that visited Japan last year, including about 370,000 for business.
