Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
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 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday as rising geopolitical tensions between Iran and Israel weighed heavily on investor sentiment. The S&P 500 lost 0.22% to 5,967.84, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.51% to 19,447.41. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.08%, closing at 42,206.82.
Markets were jittery heading into the weekend as the U.S. considers whether to intervene in the escalating conflict. President Donald Trump is expected to decide within two weeks, adding pressure on Iran to return to nuclear negotiations. Tehran has said it will not resume talks while under Israeli attack. Israel, meanwhile, claims to have hit dozens of military targets to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Investor caution was reflected in trading volumes, which surged to 20.91 billion shares, significantly above the 20-day average. The session also saw heightened volatility due to a quarterly "triple-witching" event—when stock options, index options, and futures contracts expire simultaneously.
Tech megacaps like Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) led losses, contributing to the Nasdaq’s weekly dip. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Nasdaq gained 0.2%, and the Dow remained mostly flat.
Investors also digested mixed signals from Federal Reserve officials. While Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned of potential inflation spikes from Trump’s tariffs, Governor Christopher Waller suggested a rate cut could come as early as the next meeting. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin, however, remained cautious.
On the corporate front, Kroger (NYSE:KR) soared 9.8% after raising its annual sales forecast. In contrast, Accenture (NYSE:ACN) slid 6.9% on weak third-quarter bookings.
Market breadth was negative, with declining stocks outnumbering gainers on both the NYSE and Nasdaq, reflecting broad investor unease.
