Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
The Japanese yen continued to struggle on Wednesday, slipping further as investors remained focused on the widening interest rate gap between Japan and other major economies. Despite expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will tighten monetary policy next week, the yen hovered near 156.82 per dollar after a sharp 0.6% decline the previous session, showing no clear catalyst for the move. The currency also stayed pinned near a record low against the euro, while the Australian dollar maintained its strong performance against the yen following Tuesday’s gains.
Analysts attribute the yen’s vulnerability to rising long-term U.S. yields and ongoing concerns about Japan’s fiscal outlook. Alex Hill of Electus Financial noted that market sentiment continues to pressure the yen and suggested further weakness may extend into the new year. He added that crosses such as kiwi/yen and Aussie/yen appear well positioned for additional upside. Although the BOJ is expected to raise interest rates, investors are watching closely for signals from Governor Kazuo Ueda regarding the bank’s future policy direction, particularly as Japan weighs new fiscal measures that complicate its already delicate economic landscape.
Broader currency markets traded cautiously ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy announcement. A 25-basis-point rate cut is widely expected, keeping the dollar stable with the dollar index holding at 99.23. The euro traded near $1.1625, while sterling edged slightly higher to $1.3301. Market participants will be closely analyzing Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the updated dot plot, which may offer clues about rate cut expectations for 2026.
In the commodity-linked currencies, the Australian dollar traded at $0.6643 after nearing a three-month high on hawkish remarks from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The New Zealand dollar eased slightly to $0.5776. Investors remain attentive to U.S. economic data and shifting inflation expectations as central banks navigate diverging policy paths.
