Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
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 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
The U.S. dollar hovered near a two-week low on Friday, heading for its steepest weekly drop in a month as investors weighed ongoing U.S. tariff negotiations and awaited key central bank meetings next week. Both the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan are expected to hold rates steady, but traders will scrutinize post-meeting comments for signals on future policy moves.
The yen traded at 147.10 per dollar, poised for a 1% weekly gain—its strongest since mid-May—after a U.S.-Japan trade deal reduced tariffs on auto imports to 15%. Economists polled by Reuters anticipate the BOJ will raise rates by 25 basis points this year. The dollar index stood at 97.448, set for a 1% weekly decline, while the euro held at $1.1754, near a four-year high of $1.183. The euro has surged 13.5% this year amid shifting U.S. trade policies.
Hopes for broader trade agreements grew after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed upcoming talks with Chinese officials in Stockholm. The Australian dollar hovered near an eight-month high at $0.6593, supported by improved risk sentiment.
Markets largely dismissed President Donald Trump’s rare visit to the Fed, where he clashed with Chair Jerome Powell over renovation costs and pushed for rate cuts. Fed policymakers are expected to keep rates at 4.25%-4.50%, with futures pricing in 43 basis points of cuts by year-end. Analysts at ANZ forecast 25-basis-point cuts in September and December, citing slowing demand, labor market weakness, and easing service inflation.
Bitcoin slipped 0.79% to $117,840, while Ethereum fell 2% to $3,655, mirroring broader risk sentiment as traders await clarity from upcoming policy decisions.
