EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
The U.S. dollar remained under pressure on Friday, heading for its biggest weekly decline in nearly three months amid growing concerns about trade tensions, economic weakness, and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts. The dollar index held at 98.23, down 0.6% for the week, as an extended U.S. government shutdown delayed the release of key economic data, further clouding the outlook for the economy.
According to Pepperstone strategist Dilin Wu, escalating trade frictions and uncertainty surrounding the Fed’s independence are pushing investors toward alternative assets such as gold and cryptocurrencies. “It’s really hard to find a bullish scenario for the dollar index,” Wu noted, adding that investors are seeking safety in assets that can’t easily be devalued.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.2% to 150.12 per dollar after Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda signaled readiness to raise rates if growth and inflation forecasts improve. BOJ Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida is also expected to speak later on Friday. Meanwhile, the euro edged up 0.1% to $1.1701, and the British pound rose 0.1% to $1.3446.
Fed Governor Christopher Waller expressed support for another rate cut at the central bank’s upcoming meeting, citing mixed labor market data. Fellow governor Stephen Miran also backed deeper cuts, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a more aggressive monetary stance. The Fed’s Beige Book highlighted emerging economic weakness, including rising layoffs and softer spending among middle- and lower-income households.
Adding to global uncertainty, China rejected U.S. calls to ease restrictions on rare earth exports, accusing Washington of stoking panic. Meanwhile, digital assets continued to attract investors seeking hedges, with bitcoin gaining 0.6% to $108,534.66 and ether up 1.8% to $3,919.71.
