The Bank of England has moved significantly closer to cutting interest rates after a narrow 5–4 MPC vote, falling inflation projections, and worsening UK economic outlook. Markets are increasingly pricing in a potential rate cut as early as March, adding volatility to the pound.
Indices
S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq Analysis and Trading Levels – Market Rebound: Dow Jones all-time highs! Equities surge as Japan's Nikkei leads (+4.2%) and US-Iran fears cool. Nvidia and AMD rally, but Google and Meta lag on AI CapEx concerns. We analyze the crypto bounce and how weak labor data is reshaping expectations for Wednesday's NFP.
Forex
MUFG Bank analysts Lin Li, Michael Wan, and Lloyd Chan note that Japan’s 8 February election is reinforcing weakness in the Japanese Yen, with USD/JPY drifting back toward 160 after a brief correction.
Forex
The Pound Sterling (GBP) recovers on Friday, up by 0.60% as the US Dollar (USD) makes a U-turn, erasing Thursday’s losses amid a risk-on mood. At the time of writing, GBP/USD trades at 1.3604, yet is poised to finish the week with a 0.56% loss.
US Dollar (DXY) Analysis & Dollar Update: The Greenback and Treasuries rally as markets deleverage, but fresh labor cracks (JOLTS, layoffs) signal trouble. We analyze the "Trump-Dollar" reversal, Kevin Warsh's impact, and whether the DXY is topping out ahead of Wednesday's delayed NFP.
Forex
AUD/USD rebounds on Friday and trades around 0.6995 at the time of writing, up 0.73% on the day.
Forex
The US Dollar (USD) remains firm on Friday, with the Yen (JPY) showing the weakest performance of the major currencies for the second consecutive week.
Commodities
Gold and silver have partially recovered after a sharp correction, but valuations remain elevated. The recent rally was not supported by falling real rates or higher inflation expectations, leaving prices vulnerable. Safe haven demand driven by geopolitical and policy uncertainty remains strong, limiting downside risks, but future gains are likely to be slower and more volatile.
Forex
The USD/CAD pair trades 0.17% lower to near 1.3690 during the European trading hours on Friday.
Forex
The Euro (EUR) has resumed its immediate bullish trend against the Japanese Yen (JPY) on Friday. The pair is trading at 185.25 at the time of writing, up from session lows at 184.40, with the JPY losing ground against its main peers ahead of this weekend’s snap elections.
