Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
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 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
Asian stocks eased on Friday, retreating from record highs as investors booked profits ahead of a critical week marked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff deadline and key central bank meetings. The dollar strengthened against the yen after rebounding from a two-week low, supported by firm U.S. economic data, while Japan’s currency weakened amid political uncertainty following reports Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba may resign.
Japan’s Topix index, which surged over 5% in the previous two sessions to a record high, slipped 0.7%, while the Nikkei fell 0.5% from a one-year high. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.5%, mainland Chinese blue chips slid 0.2%, and Australia’s benchmark declined 0.5%. In contrast, U.S. S&P 500 futures rose 0.2%, buoyed by strong Alphabet earnings, with the Nasdaq also hitting a record close.
Global markets remain cautious ahead of multiple events: Trump’s August 1 trade deadline, the U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting, key payroll data, and earnings reports from tech giants Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft. The Bank of Japan will announce its policy on Thursday, coinciding with a key Liberal Democratic Party meeting following Ishiba’s coalition loss in recent elections.
The euro traded near $1.1743, down 0.2% against the dollar, while the U.S. currency advanced 0.3% to 147.37 yen. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields eased to 4.39%, while Japanese government bond yields hovered near 1.6%, their highest since 2008.
Gold prices held steady at $3,368 per ounce, poised for a weekly gain, while Brent crude rose 0.3% to $69.35 and U.S. WTI gained 0.2% to $66.18 per barrel.
