Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Oil prices hovered near two-week highs on Monday as global markets anticipated a possible U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut that could boost economic growth and strengthen energy demand. Brent crude futures edged up 4 cents to $63.79 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 7 cents to $60.15 a barrel during early Asian trading. Both benchmarks ended Friday at their highest levels since November 18, reflecting improving market sentiment.
Investor expectations are firmly tilted toward a quarter-point rate cut, with LSEG data showing an 84% probability ahead of the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting. However, analysts warn that the decision may be one of the most divisive in recent years, making the central bank’s forward guidance especially critical for commodity markets.
Geopolitical tensions continue to add uncertainty to global oil supply. Progress in Ukraine peace negotiations remains slow, with major disagreements over security guarantees for Kyiv and the status of Russian-occupied regions. According to ANZ analysts, the outcomes of these discussions—and former President Donald Trump’s push to influence negotiations—could shift global oil supply by more than 2 million barrels per day, depending on how the conflict evolves.
Additional pressure is coming from Western policy discussions, as the Group of Seven nations and the European Union consider replacing the existing price cap on Russian oil with a full maritime services ban. Such a move could significantly restrict exports from Russia, the world’s second-largest oil producer.
At the same time, Washington has intensified its stance against Venezuela, targeting alleged drug-smuggling operations and issuing threats of military action against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Meanwhile, Chinese independent refiners have increased purchases of sanctioned Iranian crude, using newly issued import quotas to draw from onshore storage and help ease an ongoing supply overhang.
These combined economic and geopolitical forces continue to shape a volatile but upward-leaning outlook for global oil markets.
