U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
US Comfortable With Canada Trade Standoff as Import Bans Loom 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
China Agrees to Buy 20 Million Tons of U.S. Coal 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Germany’s 2026 Growth Outlook Strengthens on Fiscal Spending 
Dollar Falls as Oil Eases, Yen Jumps on Intervention Signals 
Canadian Dollar Faces Pressure as Fed-BoC Policy Gap Widens 
Oil Prices Fall on U.S.-Iran Hormuz Deal Hopes 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
US Stock Futures Fall as Treasury Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
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The Japanese yen strengthened 0.27% to 151.94 per dollar on Monday after Japan's Q4 GDP data exceeded expectations, fueling speculation of further rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) in 2024. Traders are now pricing in 35 basis points of hikes by December, with analysts like Marcel Thieliant from Capital Economics forecasting more aggressive BOJ tightening.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar remained under pressure following weaker-than-expected retail sales data, reigniting bets for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The dollar index stood at 106.79, down 1.2% from last week. Optimism over a delay in Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and ongoing Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia also weighed on the greenback. National Australia Bank's Rodrigo Catril noted that weaker U.S. data and geopolitical optimism are challenging the dollar's strength.
The euro edged closer to $1.05, trading at $1.0487, while the British pound remained steady at $1.2582.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the Australian dollar rose 0.07% to $0.6357 ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) rate decision on Tuesday. Markets expect a 25-basis point cut, the first in over four years, aligning the RBA with other central banks’ easing cycles. The New Zealand dollar also inched up 0.03% to $0.5734, with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand set to announce a 50-basis point rate cut on Wednesday.
As forex markets react to economic data and policy shifts, traders remain focused on global central bank actions, geopolitical developments, and U.S. economic performance.
