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Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
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Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
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JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Russian equities ended Saturday’s session largely unchanged, with the MOEX Russia Index holding steady at 0.00%. Market activity reflected mixed performances across key sectors on the Moscow Stock Exchange.
Polyus PJSC (MCX:PLZL) led gainers, adding 0.63% to close at 1,926.60, followed by Moskovskiy Kreditnyi Bank (MCX:CBOM), which climbed 0.63% to 7.22. Unipro PJSC (MCX:UPRO) also advanced 0.61% to 1.48. In contrast, AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX:AFKS) fell 0.70% to 15.76, while PIK SHb PJSC (MCX:PIKK) dropped 0.63% to 614.40 and VK Company Ltd (MCX:VKCO) slipped 0.34% to 324.30.
Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners 101 to 42, with six issues remaining unchanged. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI), tracking implied volatility for MOEX options, stayed flat at 34.30.
Commodity markets saw broader weakness. Gold futures for August delivery dropped 1.12% to $3,335.60 per troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery fell 1.32% to $65.16 a barrel, while Brent oil for September slid 1.07% to $68.44.
Currency movements were modest. The U.S. dollar gained 0.20% against the ruble to 79.41, while the euro rose 0.15% to 93.24. The U.S. Dollar Index futures climbed 0.29% to 97.40, signaling continued dollar strength amid global commodity pressures.
The flat close of Russia’s main stock benchmark highlights ongoing investor caution as commodity volatility and currency fluctuations weigh on market sentiment. Traders remain attentive to global economic signals, with energy and gold price trends likely to influence Russian market direction in the coming sessions.
