South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Retreats After Fed Decision 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Dollar Struggles as Policy Uncertainty Weighs on Markets Despite Official Support 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
The German bunds remained flat during early European session of the last trading day of the week Friday amid a silent trading day that witnessed data of little economic significance after the country’s GfK consumer climate index for the month of January, disappointed market sentiments ahead of a long-awaited Christmas week holiday.
The German 10-year bond yield, which move inversely to its price, hovered around -0.233 percent, the yield on 30-year note remained flat at 0.289 percent while the yield on short-term 2-year barely slipped 1 basis point to -0.637 percent by 07:25GMT.
Global equity market extended the rally on Thursday on the back of optimism of trade deal despite mixed US data. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the phase one trade deal will be signed at the beginning of January as the deal was completely finished. US initial weekly jobless claims fell by 18K to 234K although continuing claims rose from 1.667 million to 1.722 million, OCBC Treasury Research reported.
Today, markets will be watching out for the revised US and UK GDP and also any updates on the impeachment process against Trump, the report added.
Meanwhile, the German DAX edged tad -0.08 percent down to 13,211.96 by 07:30GMT.
