U.S.–Taiwan Trade Agreement Sets 15% Tariff, Boosts Energy and Semiconductor Investment 
Asian Markets Consolidate Gains as Japan GDP Disappoints and Fed Rate Cut Bets Rise 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Tumble Ahead of Key CPI Inflation Data 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as US-Iran Tensions and Strong Payroll Data Shape Market Sentiment 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead of Holiday as Investors Await Key Economic Data 
Yen Surges After Takaichi Election Win as Markets Eye U.S. Inflation Data 
Fed Governor Stephen Miran Warns Tight Monetary Policy Threatens U.S. Economic Growth 
Oil Prices Steady but Head for Weekly Loss as Supply Glut Concerns Weigh 
Ukraine Secures $8.2 Billion IMF Loan as Tax Conditions Are Eased 
Asian Stocks Hit Record High as Strong U.S. Jobs Data Tempers Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
ECB Expands Euro Liquidity Backstop to Strengthen Global Role of the Euro 
Japan GDP Growth Slows Sharply in Q4 2025 Amid Weak Business Spending and Trade Tensions 
Oil Prices Steady as Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks and OPEC+ Output Plans Shape Market Outlook 
Japan Coalition Urges BOJ Independence as Sales Tax Cut Plan Advances 
Asian Currencies Trade in Tight Range as Dollar Steadies; Yen Slips on Weak Japan GDP 
Asian currencies were largely unchanged on Wednesday as subdued Lunar New Year trading kept market activity light across the region. With major financial centers such as China and Hong Kong closed for the holiday, foreign exchange markets saw limited volatility despite ongoing U.S. dollar consolidation ahead of key economic data releases.
The U.S. Dollar Index rose 0.1% after modest overnight gains, while U.S. Dollar Index futures also edged 0.1% higher in early GMT trading. Investors remained cautious as they awaited the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes and the upcoming U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index report, a key inflation indicator that could shape expectations for future interest rate policy.
The New Zealand dollar was the biggest mover in the region. The NZD/USD pair dropped nearly 1% after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept its official cash rate unchanged at 2.25%. The central bank reiterated its accommodative monetary policy stance, signaling that interest rates would remain supportive as inflation gradually returns to its 2% midpoint target. The RBNZ noted that spare economic capacity and moderate wage growth are likely to keep price pressures contained over the next year. Following the announcement, markets scaled back expectations for near-term rate hikes, pushing tightening bets toward late 2026 and weighing on the kiwi dollar.
In Japan, fresh trade data showed exports surged 16.8% year-on-year in January, while imports declined, resulting in a narrower-than-expected trade deficit of 1.15 trillion yen. Despite the strong export performance, the USD/JPY pair edged 0.1% higher.
Elsewhere in Asia, currency movements were muted. The South Korean won traded flat against the dollar, the Singapore dollar gained 0.1%, and the offshore Chinese yuan remained steady. The Indian rupee posted marginal gains, while the Australian dollar slipped 0.2% against the greenback as traders positioned ahead of critical U.S. economic signals.
