JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
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 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Asian shares climbed for a seventh consecutive month on Friday, driven by strong earnings from Amazon and Apple that lifted Wall Street sentiment and supported U.S. futures. Nasdaq futures surged 1.2%, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.6%, after Amazon reported stellar quarterly results that boosted its shares by 13%, adding over $300 billion in market value. Apple gained 2.3% as upbeat iPhone sales guidance exceeded expectations, offsetting concerns over rising AI-related expenses at Meta and Microsoft.
Six of the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. tech giants have now reported mixed results, with Nvidia—the world’s first $5 trillion company—set to release earnings in three weeks. According to Capital.com analyst Kyle Rodda, improved earnings from Apple and Amazon have brightened market sentiment heading into Asian trade, even as uncertainty lingers over interest rate outlooks and economic data.
MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan gained 0.2%, marking a 1.8% weekly and 4.7% monthly rise. Japan’s Nikkei jumped 1.1%, capping weekly and monthly gains of 5.2% and 15.5%, respectively. However, Chinese markets lagged as weak October factory data weighed on confidence. The official PMI slipped to 49, below expectations, signaling contraction. Chinese blue chips fell 0.4%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.3%.
A recent U.S.-China summit between Presidents Trump and Xi resulted in reduced tariffs, resumed U.S. soybean purchases, and continued Chinese rare earth exports, though investors viewed it as a tactical truce rather than a breakthrough.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar hovered near three-month highs at 99.459, supported by steady Treasury yields. The euro edged up to $1.1572 after the European Central Bank held rates at 2%.
Meanwhile, Brent crude slipped 0.5% to $64.67 per barrel, and gold held at $4,033.48 per ounce, despite weekly losses, as investors weighed stronger dollar pressures against safe-haven demand.
