Global Markets:
- Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.01%, Shanghai Composite up 0.64%, Hang Seng up 2.14% ASX up 0.36%
- Commodities : Gold at $2782.35 (0.6%), Silver at $31.25 (1.48%), Brent Oil at $78.39 (-0.09%), WTI Oil at $74.54 (-0.03%)
- Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.634, UK 10-year yield at 4.6355, Germany 10-year yield at 2.513
News & Data:
- (CAD) Core Retail Sales m/m -0.7% vs 0.1% expected
- (CAD) Retail Sales m/m 0.0% vs 0.2% expected
- (USD) Unemployment Claims 223K vs 221K expected
Markets Update:
Asia-Pacific markets climbed on Friday after the S&P 500 hit record highs overnight, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for lower interest rates and cheaper oil. Japan’s central bank raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 0.5%, the highest since 2008, in line with expectations. Following the decision, the yen slightly weakened to 155.18 per dollar. Meanwhile, Japan’s core inflation rate rose to a 16-month high of 3% in December.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.09%, while the Topix gained 0.16%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng surged 2.06%, and China’s CS1300 advanced 0.83%. In South Korea, the Kospi added 0.58%, while the Kosdaq climbed 0.87%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.36% higher at 8,408.9. Singapore’s central bank also eased its monetary policy in response to rising core inflation.
In the U.S., the S&P 500 gained 0.53%, setting an all-time intraday high for the second straight session, closing at 6,118.71. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 408.34 points (0.92%) to 44,565.07, while the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.22% to 20,053.68. These gains marked the fourth consecutive winning session for all three major indexes, reflecting strong investor sentiment.
Global markets remained optimistic amid monetary policy adjustments and inflation trends. Investors closely watched central bank moves, with Japan and Singapore making key policy changes. The continued strength of U.S. stocks further reinforced confidence in economic resilience despite inflation concerns.
Upcoming Events:
- 02:45 PM GMT – USD Flash Manufacturing PMI
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