Japan Coalition Urges BOJ Independence as Sales Tax Cut Plan Advances 
Japan, U.S. Speed Up Talks on $550 Billion Investment Deal Amid Tariff Pressure 
U.S.–Taiwan Trade Agreement Sets 15% Tariff, Boosts Energy and Semiconductor Investment 
Gold and Silver Prices Slip After Strong U.S. Jobs Data, Fed Rate Cut Bets Fade 
Asian Stock Markets Trade in Narrow Range as Japan GDP Misses Forecasts, Hang Seng Gains 
Japan Signals Openness to Gradual BOJ Rate Hikes as Deflation Era Ends 
U.S. Stocks End Mixed as January CPI Cools, Treasury Yields Slide 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
U.S. Inflation Cools in January as Gas Prices Fall, Core CPI Signals Sticky Price Pressures 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as US-Iran Tensions and Strong Payroll Data Shape Market Sentiment 
BOJ Governor Ueda Meets PM Takaichi as Markets Eye Possible Rate Hike 
Gold Prices Steady Above $5,000 as Markets Eye Fed Minutes and PCE Inflation Data 
Fed Governor Stephen Miran Warns Tight Monetary Policy Threatens U.S. Economic Growth 
ECB Expands Euro Liquidity Backstop to Strengthen Global Role of the Euro 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher Ahead of Holiday as Investors Await Key Economic Data 
Russian stocks finished Saturday’s trading session largely unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index closing flat at 0.00% in Moscow. Despite the steady headline figure, individual shares posted modest gains and losses, reflecting mixed investor sentiment across key sectors of the Russian stock market.
Among the top performers on the MOEX Russia Index was Mobil’nye Telesistemy PJSC (MCX: MTSS), which advanced 0.53% to close at 236.00. Rosneft PJSC (MCX: ROSN) also recorded gains, rising 0.39% to 397.20, while ROSSETI PJSC (MCX: FEES) edged up 0.35% to finish at 0.07. These gains helped offset declines seen in parts of the banking and metals sectors.
On the downside, Bank VTB PJSC (MCX: VTBR) led losses, falling 0.49% to close at 88.45. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) slipped 0.23% to 14.13, and Novolipetsk Steel (MCX: NLMK) declined 0.18% to end at 111.06. Overall market breadth remained positive, with 121 stocks advancing, 97 declining, and 23 closing unchanged on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), which tracks implied volatility for MOEX Russia Index options, remained steady at 24.99, indicating stable market expectations.
In the commodities market, gold futures for April delivery surged 1.67% to reach $5,080.90 per troy ounce, reflecting strong demand for safe-haven assets. Crude oil prices were mixed, with April WTI crude dipping 0.06% to $66.39 per barrel, while April Brent crude rose 0.14% to $71.76 per barrel.
In the forex market, the USD/RUB exchange rate eased 0.03% to 76.72, while EUR/RUB gained 0.04% to 90.39. Meanwhile, US Dollar Index futures slipped 0.13% to 97.73, highlighting modest weakness in the greenback.
