Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Asian stock markets declined on Friday as investors pulled back from risk assets, pressured by concerns over elevated technology valuations and persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Despite strong quarterly earnings from AI giant Nvidia, market sentiment remained cautious, driving demand for safe-haven assets such as the Japanese yen, U.S. Treasuries, and gold.
Japan’s Nikkei index dropped 0.8%, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, while MSCI’s broad Asia-Pacific index outside Japan fell 0.4%. Nvidia reported better-than-expected January-quarter results and issued an upbeat revenue forecast, yet investors appeared reluctant to push the stock higher at its current valuation. U.S. equity futures also edged lower in Asian trading, with S&P 500 E-minis down 0.41% and Nasdaq 100 E-minis off 0.36%, reflecting broader caution around AI stocks and tech sector valuations.
Geopolitical uncertainty further dampened investor confidence. Talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program showed tentative progress, according to Oman’s foreign minister, but no clear breakthrough emerged. Markets continue to price in the risk of potential U.S. military action, keeping oil prices volatile. U.S. crude rose slightly to $65.27 per barrel as traders adopted a wait-and-see approach.
Currency markets showed modest movement. The dollar index inched up to 97.77, while the yen strengthened 0.2% to 155.86 per dollar. The euro and British pound remained largely stable. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields slipped to 4.002%, signaling ongoing demand for safer assets.
In Asia, economic data from Japan revealed cooling inflation in Tokyo and weaker factory output, complicating the Bank of Japan’s policy outlook. Meanwhile, China’s central bank announced it would remove foreign exchange risk reserves for certain forward contracts, lowering dollar-buying costs and supporting the yuan.
Gold held near recent highs, while cryptocurrencies saw mild declines, with bitcoin trading around $67,290 and ether near $2,016, underscoring broader market caution.
