Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Gold Prices Pull Back After Record Highs as January Rally Remains Strong 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Indonesia Stocks Face Fragile Sentiment After MSCI Warning and Market Rout 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
The U.S. dollar slipped on Thursday as thin holiday trading and growing expectations of U.S. rate cuts in the coming year weighed on the currency. Investors are increasingly pricing in a series of Federal Reserve rate reductions through 2026, prompting traders to reposition across major forex pairs.
The yen strengthened about 0.4% to 155.87 per dollar, while the euro edged above $1.16 in early trading. Meanwhile, the New Zealand dollar surged to a three-week high of $0.5714 after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand delivered a surprise message despite cutting rates. The central bank signaled that a rate hold had been on the table and suggested the easing cycle may be over, leading markets to price in a potential rate hike by December next year. Strong domestic data — including rising Q3 retail sales and the highest business confidence reading in a year — reinforced bullish sentiment, with analysts noting that “Kiwi green shoots” are multiplying.
The Australian dollar also gained momentum following hotter-than-expected inflation figures, which strengthened expectations that Australia’s rate-cut cycle has likely ended. With Australia’s 10-year yield at 4.48%, the highest among G10 nations, analysts say the Aussie dollar still appears undervalued. At $0.6526, it sits near the midpoint of an 18-month trading channel, though recent moves show the currency tracking China’s yuan more closely than domestic rates. The yuan held steady after China’s central bank maintained firm guidance via its daily fixing.
Sterling climbed to $1.3256, reaching its strongest level since late October, and is heading for its biggest weekly gain since August after the U.K. budget tempered concerns over national finances.
The U.S. dollar index hovered at 99.433, extending a retreat from a six-month high. Analysts, including Spectra Markets’ Brent Donnelly, note that sentiment for the dollar may remain pressured heading into 2026, especially if policymakers favor rate-cutting strategies.
