Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
In January 2025, the U.S. economy added 143,000 jobs, which was below the expected 169,000. The unemployment rate declined by a small percentage to 4.0%. Health care, retail, and social assistance gained jobs, but the mining and oil industries lost jobs. Job numbers for November and December were revised to be better than reported. The average workweek of all workers fell by 0.1 hour to 34.1 hours, while earnings per hour were up by 3.9% since a year ago.
Canada, however, created 76,000 jobs in January, much better than anticipated. The unemployment rate fell to 6.6%. The country saw more young people at work, more jobs for women, and more men aged 25 to 54. Manufacturing jobs were added most, 33,000, and average hourly wages grew 3.5% to $35.99. Total hours worked rose too.
The University of Michigan's February report showed an inflation expectation rise where 1-year expectations reached a record high since November 2023 to 4.3% compared to 3.3%. Five-year expectations, however, rose very slightly from 3.2% to 3.3%. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment hit its lowest point since July, after it went down to 67.8, while economists targeted an increase of 74 from January 71.1.
Markets look for US inflation, GDP, and Powell's testimony for further direction next week.
