Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
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 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Wall Street’s main indexes climbed on Thursday, supported by strong earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) that reinforced investor optimism about artificial intelligence (AI) and extended a rally in chip stocks. TSMC, the world’s largest maker of advanced chips, raised its full-year revenue forecast, citing surging demand from AI spending. Despite initial gains of over 2% before the opening bell, U.S.-listed TSMC shares slipped 1.1% amid volatile trading.
The upbeat sentiment spread across major U.S. chipmakers. Nvidia rose 1.2%, Micron Technology advanced 2.7%, and Broadcom gained 1.3%, lifting the S&P 500 tech sector by 0.5%. Analysts said investor enthusiasm for AI continues to be fueled by strong spending from tech giants and hyperscalers, with investors now exploring adjacent opportunities beyond traditional chipmakers.
Recent positive momentum in AI-related stocks and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts have supported markets in recent months. Strong earnings from major banks also highlighted economic resilience, even as official macroeconomic data remain delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.
At 10:02 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 83.57 points, or 0.18%, to 46,336.88. The S&P 500 gained 19.62 points, or 0.29%, to 6,690.68, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 115.74 points, or 0.51%, to 22,785.82. The S&P 500 communication services sector advanced 0.7%, while financials declined 0.9%.
In geopolitical news, tensions flared as China accused the U.S. of inciting panic over rare earth export controls, rejecting Washington’s call to ease restrictions. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump threatened to impose additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods but remains open to meeting President Xi Jinping later this month.
Elsewhere, Salesforce shares surged 7.1% after projecting 2030 revenue above $60 billion, while Hewlett Packard Enterprise fell 8.6% on weaker profit guidance. J.B. Hunt jumped 17.7% following stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings.
