Yen's Strength Catches Investors' Attention Amidst Rate Divergence

The Japanese yen's recent surge has caught the attention of global investors, reversing its performance from last year and emerging as the top-performing G10 currency against the dollar this year, Nikkei Asia reports. The yen reached a high of 148.56 early Wednesday, marking a more than 5%

Buffett's Appetite for Japanese Trading Houses Instils Confidence, Sends Stocks Soaring

Warren Buffett's expressed intention to increase his stake in Japan's top five trading houses has sent their stock prices surging, Nikkei Asia reports. The billionaire investor's comments, outlined in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, come as the companies agreed to raise the

Bank of Korea Cuts Interest Rate Amidst Weak Growth Projections

South Korea's central bank has cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.75%, bringing the total reduction to 50 basis points since October. The move, anticipated by economists, aims to stimulate the economy amidst forecasts of slowing growth. The Bank of Korea (BOK) cited

Gold Holds Near Record High as Dollar Weakens

Spot gold prices edged higher on Monday, hovering near their record highs reached last week, Reuters reports. This upward momentum is attributed to a weakening US dollar and anticipation for key US inflation data due later this week. Spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,939.15 an ounce by

Trump Restricts Chinese Investment in Key Sectors

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to tighten restrictions on Chinese investment in strategic sectors, Nikkei Asia reports. This move aims to protect national security interests from perceived threats posed by China. The memorandum, signed on Friday, asserts

China Deepens Rural Reforms to Boost Food Security

China is intensifying its efforts to strengthen its agricultural sector and ensure food security, according to a new policy document, Reuters reports. This comes amid concerns about US tariffs, an economic slowdown, and the impacts of climate change. The State Council's annual rural policy blueprint, known as the

US Urges Mexico to Impose Tariffs on Chinese Goods Amidst Trade Tensions

The Trump administration has reportedly pressed Mexico to impose its own tariffs on Chinese imports as a means of mitigating the impact of threatened US tariffs, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter. This call was reportedly conveyed by US officials, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, at a Thursday

Canada's December Retail Sales Surge 2.5%, Exceeding Expectations

Canada's retail sales experienced robust growth in December, rising 2.5% on a monthly basis, exceeding analysts' predictions, Reuters reports. Economists attribute this surge to a combination of holiday spending and a sales tax break implemented by the government. Analysts polled by Reuters had projected a more

Existing Home Sales Extend Slump in January

Sales of existing homes continued their decline in January, marking a weak start to the year after two consecutive years of sluggish performance, The Wall Street Journal reports. This decline follows a trend of depressed sales throughout 2024, attributed to persistently high home prices and mortgage rates. According to data

UK Firms Slash Jobs Amidst Looming Tax Hike

British businesses are shedding jobs at the fastest rate in over four years as they brace for a significant tax increase announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as reported by Reuters, citing a survey released Friday. The preliminary reading of the UK S&P Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)