U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Japan Warns Against Speculative Forex Trading Amid Yen Weakness
Japan's top currency diplomat issued a warning on Monday against speculative trading as the yen fell below 149 per dollar. Atsushi Mimura, the country's senior currency official, emphasized the need to monitor foreign exchange market activity with urgency, following the verbal warnings often used by his predecessor, Masato Kanda.
Mimura did not comment on the specifics of the current market situation.
Government Response to Rapid Currency Movements
Newly appointed Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato also stressed the government's commitment to keeping a close eye on rapid currency movements. "The government will consider what action should be taken while monitoring the impacts," Kato stated.
The yen dropped to 149.10 against the dollar in early trading on Monday. This decline followed a strong U.S. jobs report for September, prompting traders to reduce expectations for major interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Impact on Japan's Monetary Policy
Japan previously conducted a yen-buying intervention in late July to support its currency when it fell to a 38-year low. The yen has been under continuous pressure, especially after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba signaled that the economy was not ready for further interest rate hikes—contradicting his earlier support for the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) shift from its decades-long loose monetary policy.
When asked about the BOJ's policy rate, Kato declined to give a specific opinion, leaving those decisions to the central bank.
BOJ's Inflation Goals
The Bank of Japan delivered its first rate hike in 17 years in March, citing the pace of price and wage growth as evidence of Japan overcoming its deflationary mindset. An unexpected rate hike in July further shook domestic markets. "The government hopes the BOJ will communicate with markets thoroughly and take appropriate policy to achieve its 2% inflation target stably and sustainably," Kato added.
