Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Asian Stocks Rally as Tech Rebounds, China Lags on Nvidia Competition Concerns 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Wall Street Futures Dip as Broadcom Slides, Tech Weighed Down Despite Dovish Fed Signals 
BOJ Expected to Deliver December Rate Hike as Economists See Borrowing Costs Rising Through 2025 
The U.S. dollar hovered near a four-month low on Friday as uncertainty over tariff policies and economic growth prospects weighed on investor sentiment. A temporary reprieve on tariffs targeting Mexico and Canada, announced by President Donald Trump on Thursday, did little to support the greenback. Meanwhile, market participants awaited U.S. nonfarm payrolls data, set for release later in the day.
The dollar slipped to a three-month low of 0.8820 against the Swiss franc and weakened slightly against the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso. Trump’s tariff suspension is set to expire on April 2, when reciprocal levies will take effect on all U.S. trading partners. Analysts, including Kieran Williams of InTouch Capital Markets, noted that signs of waning U.S. economic strength have led to a diminished appeal for the dollar, with inflationary concerns failing to provide support.
The focus remains on February’s U.S. jobs report, which is expected to show 160,000 job additions, up from 143,000 in January, with unemployment steady at 4.0%. However, a surge in planned layoffs—172,017 in February, the highest since previous recessions—has fueled concerns about economic slowdown. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is scheduled to address the economic outlook later in the day, with markets pricing in 77 basis points in rate cuts for 2025.
The U.S. dollar index edged down 0.05% to 104.15, while the euro held at $1.0790 after hitting a four-month high. The yen strengthened slightly, with the dollar trading at 147.86 yen. Meanwhile, Bitcoin dropped 4.61% to $85,354.63 following an executive order by Trump establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve funded through asset forfeiture.
