Saudi Arabia Raises Oil Prices for Asia Amid Market Volatility and Middle East Tensions 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks Amid Gulf War Supply Fears 
Australia-EU Free Trade Deal Signed After Years of Negotiations 
Bank of Japan Eyes April Rate Hike Despite Inflation Dip, ING Says 
Asian Currencies Slide as U.S.-Iran Tensions and Rising Oil Prices Rattle Markets 
South Korean Stocks Tumble as Hawkish BOK Governor Appointment Rattles Markets 
Gold Hits Record High as Investors Eye Fed Chair Powell’s Speech on Tariffs 
Oil Prices Rebound as Iran Denies U.S. Talks, Middle East Tensions Persist 
Gold Soars to One-Month High as Weak Jobs Data Fuels Fed Rate Cut Speculation 
Key Date for Tariff Policy Changes 
Australia's Inflation Eases in February but Core Pressures Persist 
The yen experienced volatile trading after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised interest rates by 25 basis points at its policy meeting, aligning with market expectations. The currency settled at 156 per dollar, with investors awaiting BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda's briefing for further guidance on rate hikes.
Other currencies saw notable movements, with the euro inching up 0.08% to 162.71 yen and the pound gaining 0.17% to 192.99 yen. Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.0% year-on-year in December, the fastest pace in 16 months, adding inflationary pressure.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars surged following U.S. President Donald Trump's softer stance on China tariffs, revealed during a Fox News interview. The Aussie climbed to $0.6321, while the kiwi reached $0.5708, both hitting five-week highs. These currencies, proxies for the Chinese yuan, benefited alongside the yuan itself, which hit its strongest levels since December at 7.2450 per dollar onshore and 7.2519 offshore.
Trump’s comments also triggered a broad decline in the U.S. dollar, which fell 0.23% to 107.89 against a basket of currencies, marking its worst weekly loss in two months. The euro rose 0.24% to $1.0441, and sterling advanced 0.32% to $1.2391, with both on track for strong weekly gains. Market sentiment shifted as investors priced out tariff risk premiums from the dollar.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin climbed 0.51% to $103,648.55, and Ether gained 1.75% to $3,305.51, as Trump announced a cryptocurrency task force to regulate digital assets and explore a national crypto stockpile, signaling a significant policy shift.
