Copper Prices Hit Record Highs as Metals Rally Gains Momentum on Geopolitical Tensions 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Wall Street Slips as Tech Stocks Slide on AI Spending Fears and Earnings Concerns 
Starmer’s China Visit Signals New Era in UK–China Economic Relations 
Tech Stocks Surge in Asia; Experts Warn ‘Cooling AI Boom May Hit NVIDIA’s Gains Hard’ 
Apple Loses Top Spot in China's Smartphone Market Amid Rising Competition 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Key Date for Tariff Policy Changes 
Trump Threatens 50% Tariff on Canadian Aircraft Amid Escalating U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 
ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 
ECB Signals Steady Interest Rates as Fed Risks Loom Over Outlook 
Bank of Japan Likely to Delay Rate Hike Until July as Economists Eye 1% by September 
US Inflation Data Sparks Speculation on Fed Rate Policy 
Asia Stocks Pause as Tech Earnings, Fed Signals, and Dollar Weakness Drive Markets 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says 
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.
