Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
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 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Wall Street’s major indexes closed mixed on Tuesday as gains in Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) offset losses in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). Investors assessed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest comments, with the Fed in no rush to cut interest rates despite persistent inflation and a strong labor market.
Powell, speaking before the Senate Banking Committee, emphasized that inflation remains above the 2% target, suggesting rate cuts are unlikely in the near term. Meanwhile, traders anticipate at least one 25-basis-point rate cut this year, with a 44% chance of another reduction, per LSEG data.
Investor attention also turned to trade policies after President Donald Trump raised steel and aluminum tariffs, hinting at further reciprocal duties on countries imposing levies on U.S. goods. Market volatility remains high amid economic uncertainties, inflation concerns, and ongoing tariff discussions.
The S&P 500 edged up 0.03% to 6,068.50, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.28% to 44,593.65. The Nasdaq dipped 0.36% to 19,643.86. Trading volume was above average, with 15.4 billion shares exchanged.
Coca-Cola surged 4.7% after beating Q4 revenue estimates due to higher prices and strong demand. Apple rose 2.2% following reports of an AI partnership with Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) in China. Tesla plummeted 6.3% after reports that Elon Musk's consortium bid $97 billion to acquire OpenAI’s controlling nonprofit.
Other notable movers included Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), up 4.7% after Elliott Investment’s $2.5 billion stake revelation, and DuPont de Nemours (NYSE:DD), which soared nearly 7% after raising its 2025 profit forecast. Ecolab (NYSE:ECL) jumped 6.2% on strong earnings guidance, while Fidelity National Information Services (NASDAQ:III) tumbled over 11% due to a weak profit outlook.
