China's New Home Prices Continue to Fall in February 2025 
Asian Markets Rally on AI Optimism Ahead of Fed Decision 
Oil Prices Waver Amid U.S.-Israel Conflict with Iran and Strait of Hormuz Tensions 
Oil Prices Dip as U.S. Crude Inventories Surge Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Oil Prices Surge Amid Middle East Tensions 
Taiwan Central Bank Expected to Hold Interest Rates Steady Through 2027 
RBA Raises Cash Rate to 4.10% in Closest Vote Since Transparent Voting Began 
Global Markets on Edge as Gulf Tensions Push Oil Prices Higher 
U.S. Futures Slip After Wall Street Rebound as Fed Decision Looms 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid Iran Conflict and Fed Uncertainty 
Trump Seeks Global Coalition to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Conflict 
RBA Set to Hike Rates Again Amid Inflation Surge and Global Uncertainty 
Iran-Israel War Escalates: Cluster Missiles, Nuclear Fears, and Strait of Hormuz Crisis 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates as Strait of Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Oil Supply 
U.S. Presses South Korea on Strait of Hormuz Naval Support Amid Rising Energy Tensions 
Gold Prices Hold Above $5,000 as Central Bank Meetings and Iran War Stay in Focus 
China's Economy Surges in Early 2026: Industrial Output and Retail Sales Beat Forecasts 
Global currency markets shifted cautiously on Wednesday as easing crude oil prices offered a brief respite from recent volatility, lifting risk appetite just ahead of a series of major central bank policy decisions. The U.S. dollar paused its recent rally, with the dollar index edging marginally higher by 0.06% to 99.61 after two consecutive days of losses.
The Japanese yen held near historically sensitive levels, trading at 159.00 per dollar, as markets monitored developments surrounding Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Analysts from Mizuho Securities noted that the Takaichi administration may actually prefer a weaker yen, suggesting limited room for significant USD/JPY downside. The euro dipped slightly to $1.1532 ahead of the European Central Bank's two-day policy meeting, while sterling remained stable at $1.3355.
The broader market context remains shaped by the ongoing Middle East conflict, now entering its third week. The crisis has driven demand for safe-haven assets, pushing the dollar to a 10-month peak late last week as rising oil prices stoked inflation concerns. A reported rise in U.S. crude inventories, based on American Petroleum Institute data, helped temper those pressures temporarily.
The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its rate decision Wednesday, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan all following Thursday. None are anticipated to change rates, though investor attention will be fixed on forward guidance around inflation and economic growth. Markets currently price in roughly 25 basis points of Fed cuts for the year, while expectations for ECB rate hikes in 2026 have grown sharply since the conflict began.
Commodity-linked currencies gained modest ground, with the Australian dollar rising 0.1% to $0.7109 and the New Zealand dollar up 0.05% to $0.586. In crypto markets, Bitcoin slipped 0.40% to $74,257.80, while Ethereum gained 0.22% to $2,333.60.
