Oil Prices Steady as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength Caps Gains 
Asian Markets Wobble as AI Fears Rattle Stocks, Oil and Gold Rebound 
Gold, Silver, and Platinum Rally as Precious Metals Recover from Sharp Selloff 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Lower as Tech and AI Stocks Drag Wall Street Ahead of Key Earnings 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Paul Atkins Emphasizes Global Regulatory Cooperation at Fintech Conference 
Japan Services Sector Records Fastest Growth in Nearly a Year as Private Activity Accelerates 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Trump Extends AGOA Trade Program for Africa Through 2026, Supporting Jobs and U.S.-Africa Trade 
Data released earlier on Wednesday showed that New Zealand’s current account deficit remains remarkably well contained narrowing to 3.1% of GDP in the year to December 2015, against market expectations that it would hold steady at 3.3%.
Details however showed that headline result was driven by a sharp drop in the outflow of profits from overseas-owned firms in New Zealand. Both the goods and services trade balances narrowed and it doesn’t reflect well on the strength of the domestic economy. The goods trade deficit widened to $810m, the worst quarterly result since 2008, while surplus on services fell slightly to $977m, the first decline in two years.
"The details of today’s release have no implications for our forecast of December quarter GDP, which will be published tomorrow. We expect a 0.7% increase for the quarter, following a 0.9% gain in the September quarter," said Westpac's research in a report.
