Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
The U.S. dollar weakened for a third consecutive week on Friday, pressured by growing expectations of interest rate cuts next year after the Federal Reserve pushed back against more hawkish market assumptions. This shift in sentiment lifted major rival currencies, with the euro and British pound climbing to their highest levels since October as investors reassessed the outlook for U.S. monetary policy.
In early Asian trading, the euro held steady near $1.1741 after posting solid gains in the previous session, while the pound edged higher to around $1.3395. Both currencies are on track for a third straight weekly advance, reflecting sustained dollar softness. The greenback’s decline followed the Federal Reserve’s widely expected rate cut this week, alongside comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell that were interpreted as less hawkish than markets had anticipated.
Market participants viewed the Fed’s messaging as reinforcing expectations that U.S. interest rates could fall further in the coming years. According to Ameriprise chief market strategist Anthony Saglimbene, the central bank’s effort to avoid unsettling investors may help support markets into year-end, even as uncertainty persists around inflation trends and labor market strength.
Traders are currently pricing in two U.S. rate cuts in 2026, a more dovish outlook than that suggested by policymakers, who foresee only one cut next year and another in 2027. Analysts at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia noted that concerns about the U.S. labor market could push the Federal Open Market Committee toward additional easing, with some forecasts calling for multiple cuts that would lower the federal funds rate into the 2.75%–3.0% range.
The U.S. dollar index slipped to around 98.34, extending its weekly decline to roughly 0.7% and leaving it down more than 9% for the year, its steepest annual drop since 2017. The Japanese yen also benefited from the softer dollar, while the Australian, New Zealand, and Swiss currencies gained modestly as global investors navigated diverging interest rate paths.
