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 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
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 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
U.S. financial regulators have reached an agreement to relax key capital requirements for major banks, a move expected to encourage greater holdings of U.S. Treasuries, according to a Bloomberg News report. The Federal Reserve and other agencies have reportedly submitted their final proposal for revising the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio (eSLR) to the White House for review, signaling the final stage before implementation.
The eSLR currently requires large banks to hold equal levels of capital against all assets, including low-risk government securities such as U.S. Treasuries. Critics have long argued that this rule discourages banks from participating in Treasury markets and reduces their ability to facilitate trading in safe assets crucial to financial stability.
Under the proposed changes, the amount of capital required would be adjusted based on a bank’s global systemic importance—essentially linking capital buffers to how much risk each firm poses to the overall financial system. Regulators believe this approach will more accurately reflect risk exposure while strengthening market liquidity.
The reform marks a major step toward easing post-crisis regulations that banks claim have limited their efficiency and profitability. The banking industry has lobbied for relief for years, contending that the current framework needlessly constrains their balance sheets and discourages investment in government debt.
Officials are reportedly targeting to finalize and adopt the new rule within weeks, pending White House approval. If enacted, the measure would represent a significant policy win for Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, who has advocated for a more flexible and growth-oriented regulatory framework.
The Federal Reserve declined to comment on the development, while the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) have not yet responded to requests for comment.
