Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
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 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Asian equities retreated on Thursday following disappointing Chinese economic data and a sharp drop in copper prices, while investors assessed a new trade deal between South Korea and the U.S. The dollar hovered near a two‑month high after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and major U.S. tech firms posted strong earnings.
Nasdaq futures surged 1.2% and S&P 500 futures rose 0.8% after Microsoft and Meta reported stronger‑than‑expected revenue, driven by cloud computing and AI‑powered advertising. MSCI’s Asia‑Pacific index excluding Japan fell 0.7% but remained on track for a fourth straight monthly gain.
Chinese and Hong Kong stocks led losses as July PMI figures signaled slowing factory activity. Traders are now awaiting the Bank of Japan’s policy decision for clues on potential rate hikes. The Fed’s 9‑2 vote to hold rates steady marked the fifth consecutive meeting without a change, though Chair Jerome Powell’s comments dampened expectations for September cuts.
The dollar index stood at 98.81, close to Wednesday’s peak of 99.98, with a projected 3.1% monthly gain — its first rise in 2025. U.S. GDP beat forecasts in Q2 but showed underlying weakness amid trade policy uncertainty.
The Korean won firmed 0.3% after President Trump announced a 15% tariff on South Korean imports, paired with Seoul’s $350 billion U.S. investment pledge. Copper futures tumbled 19.4% after the U.S. confirmed a 50% tariff on pipes and wiring.
Oil prices extended gains for a fourth session, supported by supply concerns and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Brent crude traded at $73.48 a barrel, while WTI stood at $70.15.
Global markets remain volatile as investors navigate mixed economic signals, shifting trade policies, and central bank strategies.
