Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
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 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
Asian stocks declined on Tuesday as investors positioned themselves ahead of a widely expected U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut later this week. Market sentiment remained cautious amid a packed schedule of global central bank meetings, including decisions from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Swiss National Bank (SNB), and Bank of Canada. All three are anticipated to keep rates unchanged, while the Fed is expected to lower borrowing costs on Wednesday.
The bigger question for markets is the Fed’s policy path beyond December. Bond investors are preparing for a more modest easing cycle, with many major Wall Street banks forecasting fewer rate cuts in 2026 due to persistent inflation pressures and a resilient U.S. economy. As a result, equities have struggled for direction, with MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipping 0.28%. Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.08%, and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.58%.
Analysts expect a cautious tone from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. TD Securities strategist Prashant Newnaha noted that the “low-hanging fruit” of policy adjustments may be over, adding that the Fed’s dot plot could show just one rate cut in 2026. Traders currently price in roughly 77 basis points of easing next year, according to LSEG data. The meeting also draws added attention as speculation grows over Powell’s potential successor, with White House Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett—considered a top contender—advocating continued rate reductions.
Asian chip stocks were volatile after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nvidia’s H200 AI processors would be allowed for export to China with a 25% fee. China’s CSI Semiconductor Index dropped nearly 1%.
Currency markets were steady, with the dollar holding firm and the euro trading near $1.1640. The yen stabilized after briefly weakening following a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in northeastern Japan that injured dozens and prompted mass evacuations.
Gold edged up 0.13% to $4,194.11 per ounce, while oil prices were flat as traders monitored peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
