Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
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 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Oil prices remained stable in Asian trading on Friday, poised for their strongest weekly gain since early January. Supply disruptions continued to support the market, despite a larger-than-expected rise in U.S. crude inventories.
Brent crude futures held at $76.45 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude remained at $72.28. Both benchmarks were on track for a nearly 2.5% weekly gain, driven by concerns over global supply constraints.
Kazakh oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) dropped 30-40% after a Ukrainian drone strike hit Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station. Meanwhile, Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging key gas production sites in Kharkiv.
In the U.S., severe cold weather in North Dakota disrupted operations, cutting oil production by 120,000 to 150,000 barrels per day, further tightening supply. Additionally, reports indicate OPEC+ may delay planned production increases, adding to market uncertainty.
However, potential restarts of oil flows from Iraq’s Kurdistan region could help offset some of these supply constraints, according to analysts at ING.
Despite supply concerns, U.S. crude inventories rose by 4.6 million barrels to 432.5 million, exceeding expectations of a 3.1 million-barrel increase, signaling weaker demand. However, gasoline and distillate stockpile declines of 151,000 and 2.1 million barrels, respectively, suggested steady fuel consumption.
The rise in crude stocks alongside falling refined product inventories highlights complex supply-demand dynamics, with refiners likely reducing intake due to maintenance or lower margins. Meanwhile, strong end-user demand continues to provide price support.
