South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
UK Housing Market Gains Momentum in Early 2026 as Mortgage Rates Fall 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
Trump to Announce New Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Powell Replacement Looms 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
Philippine Economy Slows in Late 2025, Raising Expectations of Further Rate Cuts 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Oil Prices Hit Four-Month High as Geopolitical Risks and Supply Disruptions Intensify 
The U.S. Treasuries remained flat during Thursday’s afternoon session ahead of the country’s retail sales for the month of December, scheduled to be released today by 13:30GMT and FOMC member Bowman’s speech, also due today by 15:00GMT.
In addition, the Philly Fed manufacturing index for January, lined up for release today by 13:30GMT shall provide further direction to the debt market.
The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield remained flat at 1.788 percent, the super-long 30-year bond yield hovered around 2.245 percent and the yield on the short-term 2-year also steadied at 1.562 percent by 12:00GMT.
Financial markets responded to yesterday’s signing ceremony of the first-phase US-China trade deal, which locks in a high-tariff environment for trade between the two countries, with an effective shrug, Daiwa Capital Markets.
"Today’s US retail sales report for December is expected to show a pickup in activity after disappointingly slow growth in November. Reports from the high street suggest that Black Friday sales and spending through the Christmas period was strong," Lloyds Bank commented in its latest report.
Meanwhile, the S&P 500 Futures remained tad -0.16 percent lower at 3,284.62 by 12:10GMT.
