Market Update

The European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to keep interest rates unchanged well into next year, as momentum for further hikes in 2026 fades. Economists widely agree that the deposit rate will remain steady at 2% when the Governing Council convenes in Frankfurt on February 4–5. Inflation Nudges Higher, But …

AI leadership and cloud power aren’t enough to stop the sell-off. Microsoft’s stock dropped sharply to an 8-month low even after posting solid fiscal second-quarter results, as investors reacted to slowing consumer growth and ongoing AI-related capital expenditures. The tech giant remains a leader in AI after its early investment …

Warsh Seen as Strong Fit for Federal Reserve LeadershipFederal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran voiced strong support for Kevin Warsh, describing him as an excellent choice for a leadership role at the central bank. Miran said he is enthusiastic about the work Warsh is expected to deliver and expressed confidence in …

White House Pushes Forward as Jerome Powell Era Nears Its EndPresident Donald Trump has signaled a decisive move toward reshaping Federal Reserve leadership, with the White House openly backing Kevin Warsh as its preferred choice to succeed Jerome Powell. The message from the administration is clear: it wants a swift …

Oil prices fell on Friday after the Donald Trump administration moved to ease some sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, although crude was still on track for hefty monthly gains driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and supply disruption fears. By 08:55 ET (13:55 GMT), Brent futures for March delivery were down …

Gold prices plunged sharply on Friday, breaking below the $5,000 level as a rebound in the U.S. dollar triggered heavy profit-taking following a historic rally driven by safe-haven demand. Spot gold fell as much as 8% during the session, touching $4,957.54 an ounce, before trimming losses to trade down 5% …

The number of unemployed people in Germany rose above the 3 million mark this month, reaching its highest level in 12 years, underscoring persistent weakness in the labor market despite stronger-than-expected economic growth in recent months. Data from Germany’s labor office on Friday showed unemployment increased by 177,000 in January …

Bitcoin fell sharply on Friday, dropping to its lowest level in more than two months as forced liquidations swept through leveraged positions and investors reacted to uncertainty around U.S. Federal Reserve leadership. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was down 6.4% at $82,620 by 02:15 ET, after touching a session low near …

Gold prices fell sharply again in Asian trade on Friday, extending a bout of profit-taking after U.S. President Donald Trump said he will announce his nominee for the next Federal Reserve chair later in the day. Spot gold dropped 3.6% to $5,180.26 an ounce by 01:28 ET, while April gold …

Oil prices slipped slightly in early trading, with US crude hovering near $64 a barrel after several days of gains. Despite the modest decline, prices remain firmly higher over the month, reflecting strong underlying support. Middle East Tensions Keep Risk Premium Alive Heightened tensions between the United States and Iran …