Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher After Strong Payrolls
U.S. stock index futures saw slight gains on Sunday evening following upbeat sentiment from last week’s robust nonfarm payroll data. Investors now turn their focus to potential interest rate changes and key corporate earnings due this week.
Wall Street Rallies on Payroll Data, Dampens Rate Cut Hopes
Wall Street closed sharply higher on Friday after nonfarm payroll data exceeded expectations, alleviating fears of a slowing U.S. economy. However, the data also reduced expectations for steep interest rate cuts in the coming months. By 19:34 ET (23:34 GMT), S&P 500 Futures rose 0.1% to 5,804.50, Nasdaq 100 Futures gained 0.1% to 20,245.50, and Dow Jones Futures inched up 0.1% to 5,751.07.
Fed Commentary and CPI Inflation in Focus
This week, attention is on the Federal Reserve, with officials Michelle Bowman, Neel Kashkari, and Raphael Bostic speaking on Monday. Their insights precede the release of September meeting minutes on Wednesday, which could shed light on the Fed's decision to cut rates by 50 basis points, marking the start of an easing cycle. September CPI data, also expected this week, will play a crucial role in shaping rate forecasts.
Friday’s strong payroll report shifted trader expectations, as they now predict a gradual pace of rate cuts, with the CME FedWatch tool reflecting increased bets on a higher terminal rate.
Q3 Earnings Season Kicks Off with Major Banks
The third-quarter earnings season officially kicks off this week with major financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of New York Mellon reporting results on Friday. These earnings will provide insights into how corporations are navigating high interest rates and persistent inflation. The pace of earnings reports is set to increase next week, focusing on banks and tech giants.
Conclusion
Market sentiment is currently a mix of optimism and caution, balancing strong economic data with the anticipation of rate decisions and corporate earnings performance. Key events this week include Fed commentary, CPI data, and early Q3 earnings reports from major banks.
