Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Russian equities closed mixed on Saturday, with the MOEX Russia Index ending the session flat at 0.00%, reflecting a cautious mood among investors. Market movements were largely muted as gains in select tech and industrial stocks were offset by declines in construction and energy shares.
Leading the session were VK Company Ltd (MCX: VKCO), which climbed 1.03% to close at 265.80, supported by steady demand in the digital sector. AFK Sistema PJSC (MCX: AFKS) added 0.77% to 12.50, while TATNEFT n.a. V.D. Shashin Pref (MCX: TATN_p) rose 0.74% to 556.00, aided by moderate recovery in oil market sentiment.
However, losses in the construction and energy sectors weighed on the broader market. PIK SHb PJSC (MCX: PIKK) dropped 1.16% to 416.20, marking one of the session’s weakest performances. Surgutneftegas PJSC (MCX: SNGS) slipped 0.72% to 20.06, hitting a 52-week low, while OK Rusal MKPAO (MCX: RUAL) declined 0.53% to 29.99 amid subdued aluminum prices. Market breadth was evenly split, with 105 stocks declining, 105 advancing, and 16 unchanged on the Moscow Exchange.
In commodities, Gold Futures for December delivery rose 0.70% to $4,000.40 per troy ounce, signaling a flight to safety amid global uncertainty. Meanwhile, Crude Oil (November delivery) fell sharply by 4.24% to $58.90 per barrel, and Brent Oil (December contract) dropped 3.82% to $62.73.
Currency markets also reflected moderate volatility. The USD/RUB pair gained 0.55% to 81.63, and EUR/RUB advanced 1.04% to 94.85, while the U.S. Dollar Index Futures eased 0.55% to 98.73. The Russian Volatility Index (RVI) remained stable at 31.36, indicating steady investor sentiment despite global market fluctuations.
