China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
The U.S. dollar slumped to multi-month lows against major currencies on Friday after data showed weaker-than-expected job growth, reinforcing expectations of multiple Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2024. U.S. rate futures now price in 78 basis points of easing this year, with the first rate cut likely in June. Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that the central bank will be cautious in adjusting rates, waiting for more clarity on economic policies and inflation trends.
The euro surged, marking its best week in 16 years with a 4.5% gain against the dollar, driven by Germany’s bold fiscal reforms. It peaked at $1.0888 before settling at $1.0845, up 0.6%. Against the yen, the dollar hovered at 147.99 yen, after earlier hitting a five-month low of 146.94 yen.
U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, below the 160,000 forecast, with January’s figure revised down to 125,000. Average hourly earnings growth slowed to 0.3%, easing concerns over wage inflation. The dollar index, tracking the greenback against six major currencies, fell 3.5% for the week, its worst since November 2022, dipping to 103.81.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of an economic "detox period" as the U.S. transitions from public to private spending. Meanwhile, President Trump’s tariff policy uncertainty continues to impact markets, with his recent executive order directing a strategic bitcoin reserve.
Bitcoin dropped 2.8% to $87,030.54 amid regulatory discussions at a White House summit, while ether declined 2.6% to $2,150. The dollar’s broad weakness extended against the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso, reflecting heightened market volatility.
