The Russian Central Bank surprised markets on Friday by maintaining its key interest rate at 21%, contrary to widespread expectations of a 2-percentage-point hike. Analysts had anticipated a rate increase to 23%, but the bank justified its decision by citing the effectiveness of recent tightening measures in curbing inflationary pressures. …

Gold prices held near a one-month low in Asian trade on Friday, heading for their third consecutive weekly loss as the Federal Reserve’s slower-than-expected rate cut projections for 2025 weighed on investor sentiment. Gold Performance Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $2,596.82 per ounce, while Gold futures for February delivery …

European stock markets ended the week on a downbeat note as concerns about a potential trade war with the U.S. and disappointing economic data weighed on investor sentiment. Indices Under Pressure Germany’s DAX dropped 1.1%, France’s CAC 40 slid 1%, The UK’s FTSE 100 fell 0.4%. Trade Tensions Escalate with …

The U.S. dollar ended the week on a high note, hitting a two-year peak as hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve continued to bolster its appeal. In contrast, global currencies faced significant pressure, with the yen, sterling, and commodity-linked currencies like the Australian and New Zealand dollars recording steep losses. …

Bitcoin extended its losing streak to a third day on Friday, retreating 3.7% to trade at $97,002.0 by 00:46 ET (05:46 GMT). The decline comes in the wake of the Federal Reserve’s hawkish monetary policy signals and profit-taking after the cryptocurrency reached record highs earlier in the week. Bitcoin Pullback …

Asian equities traded within a narrow range on Friday, largely reflecting the region’s cautious sentiment as global and domestic economic uncertainties dampened risk appetite. While Japan’s markets found some respite, most other major Asian indices either edged lower or remained flat, concluding a week marked by steep losses. Japanese Markets …

The Bank of England (BoE) opted to maintain its Bank Rate at 4.75% on Thursday, reflecting a cautious approach to monetary easing as inflation pressures continue to challenge the central bank’s medium-term objectives. Rate Decision Details Policymakers voted 6 to 3 in favor of leaving rates unchanged, a more decisive …

U.S. stock index futures edged higher Thursday, recovering some losses from Wednesday’s sharp sell-off after the Federal Reserve signaled a slower pace of rate cuts in 2025. At 06:00 ET (11:00 GMT), Dow Jones Futures rose 140 points (+0.3%), S&P 500 Futures gained 21 points (+0.4%), and Nasdaq 100 Futures …

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While details regarding a potential meeting remain unclear, Putin used his annual press conference to address a wide array of topics, from the conflict in Ukraine to Russia’s economic outlook and military …

Oil prices remained relatively flat on Thursday, recovering from earlier losses but still trading below Wednesday’s close. Brent crude futures edged down 3 cents to $73.36 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 2 cents to $70.56 per barrel by mid-morning trading in London. Fed Signals Slower Rate …