Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
White House Seeks $87.6 Billion Emergency Funding for Iran War, Farmers, and Ebola Response 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
The U.S. dollar hovered near two-month lows on Tuesday as investors weighed trade tariff uncertainties and the Federal Reserve's rate cut outlook. The dollar index edged up 0.1% to 106.83 but remained close to Friday’s low of 106.56. Traders are awaiting the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes on Wednesday for insights into policymakers’ stance on tariffs and inflation.
Recent data showing U.S. consumer prices rose at the fastest pace in 18 months reinforced the Fed’s cautious approach to rate cuts. ANZ strategists predict no rate cuts until the second half of 2025, expecting 75 basis points of easing, while markets anticipate 40 bps cuts this year.
The Japanese yen held firm at 151.61 per dollar after strong Q4 GDP data and persistent inflation boosted expectations of a Bank of Japan rate hike in July. The yen has gained nearly 4% against the dollar in 2025.
The euro remained steady at $1.04735, and the British pound traded at $1.2608 ahead of Saudi-hosted Ukraine peace talks. The Australian dollar, down 0.17% to $0.63459, stayed near its two-month high of $0.6374, with the Reserve Bank of Australia expected to cut rates by 25 bps. Economists at Commonwealth Bank of Australia noted the AUD could surge over 1% if the RBA holds rates steady.
The New Zealand dollar dropped 0.3% to $0.57195 as markets anticipated a 50 bps rate cut from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Wednesday.
Investors remain cautious, focusing on central bank policies, inflation trends, and geopolitical developments.
