U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Indian Rupee Slides to Record Low on Fed Outlook 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Oil Prices Edge Higher as U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Fed Near Neutral Signals Caution Ahead, Shifting Focus to Fixed Income in 2026 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Asian Currencies Steady as Fed Delivers Hawkish Rate Cut; Aussie and Rupee Under Pressure 
The Japanese yen slipped on Thursday after the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept interest rates unchanged, while the U.S. dollar maintained its strength as traders scaled back expectations of another Federal Reserve rate cut this year. The yen fell 0.1% to 152.90 per dollar, reversing earlier gains. The euro rose 0.2% to 177.50 yen, and the British pound climbed 0.15% to 201.70 yen.
As widely anticipated, the BOJ maintained its current monetary policy stance but reaffirmed its commitment to gradually raising borrowing costs if economic growth aligns with forecasts. Analysts suggest the central bank is likely to remain cautious under the newly elected Takaichi administration, which is preparing another stimulus package. According to Carol Kong, currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the BOJ will likely avoid major policy shifts in the near term due to political sensitivities.
Market participants believe Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s preference for fiscal expansion and loose monetary policy could complicate the BOJ’s tightening path.
Meanwhile, global market sentiment was upbeat following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both leaders hinted that a U.S.-China trade deal could be finalized soon, lifting investor confidence. The dollar index steadied near a two-week high at 99.09, supported by hawkish remarks from the Fed.
The euro gained slightly to $1.1613, while sterling remained near a five-and-a-half-month low at $1.3202. The Fed’s 25-basis-point rate cut was offset by Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious comments, suggesting limited scope for further easing this year.
Elsewhere, the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose 0.2% each, buoyed by a stronger Chinese yuan, which hit a near one-year high at 7.0955 per dollar on optimism over Sino-U.S. trade progress.
