Asian equities faced broad declines Friday, pressured by renewed investor skepticism over the AI investment boom and a sharp pullback in precious metals. The sell-off unfolded against a backdrop of easing oil prices and persistent geopolitical uncertainties.
The U.S. dollar extended its weekly decline as fresh geopolitical risks, including new tariff threats over Cuba and potential military action against Iran, dampened appetite for American assets, despite domestic political relief.
Gold prices resumed their upward trajectory Friday, shaking off a volatile session as threats to global stability and expectations of a dovish Federal Reserve pivot continue to drive the historic surge in bullion.
Ford Motor Company and Chinese tech giant Xiaomi have both denied a Financial Times report claiming preliminary discussions about producing Xiaomi's electric vehicles in the United States, as the auto industry navigates steep new tariffs on Chinese imports.
Iran's Supreme Leader warns of a broader regional war if the US launches an attack, as Tehran retaliates against the EU's terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards by branding European armies similarly. The moves come amidst a significant US naval buildup and fragile diplomatic signals.
The latest release of millions of pages from the Jeffrey Epstein investigations has sent shockwaves from European capitals to New Delhi, implicating figures in business, politics, and royalty, and forcing governments into damage control.
Iran's Supreme Leader issues his most direct threat yet amid heightened U.S. military presence and stalled diplomacy, while internal crackdown death toll estimates soar.
New data reveals tariffs imposed on key materials like steel and aluminum pushed nonresidential construction costs up 3.2% in 2025, with economists warning of continued pressure and broader impacts on equipment prices in the year ahead.
Facing ongoing labor disputes, Starbucks unveils a massive investment in new espresso machines, AI-assisted POS systems, and a store rating program aimed at streamlining operations and improving the partner experience.
CEO Brian Niccol says employees' questions about share prices reflect pride and care, as the coffee giant navigates workplace reforms and ongoing labor disputes.
South Africa declares Israel's top diplomat persona non grata, citing 'gross abuse' of diplomatic privileges and social media attacks on its president. Israel responds in kind, expelling a South African envoy, as months of friction over the Gaza war reach a diplomatic boiling point.
The head of the European Stability Mechanism has told Reuters the bloc's 430-billion-euro emergency fund could be repurposed to provide defense loans to member states, signaling a strategic shift as Europe seeks to bolster its military autonomy.
Fresh Israeli military actions in central and southern Gaza have resulted in multiple casualties, testing the durability of a months-long, U.S.-brokered truce and hindering critical aid flows.
Tencent Holdings has received regulatory approval to import Nvidia's advanced H200 AI chips, a significant move that enhances its competitive edge in cloud and AI services while navigating ongoing US technology restrictions.
Lawmakers are negotiating a short-term deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The talks occur against the backdrop of heightened political pressure following recent violence in Minneapolis and a shift in the administration's enforcement rhetoric.
Oil prices pulled back from multi-month highs on Friday amid broad market risk aversion, yet President Trump's intensified focus on Iran continues to inject a significant risk premium into the market, setting Brent crude for its strongest monthly gain in years.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai Friday with over 50 business leaders, aiming to deepen UK-China commercial ties. The visit, the first by a UK premier in eight years, comes against a backdrop of renewed US skepticism over Western engagement with Beijing.
As the European Central Bank prepares for its February meeting, policymakers are navigating a stronger euro driven by a weakening dollar and geopolitical uncertainty, while assessing the resilience of the eurozone economy.
After a historic surge, gold prices have experienced their steepest drop in decades. Yet, analysts point to enduring geopolitical tensions and monetary policy shifts as reasons why the metal's long-term appeal remains intact.
A hawkish Fed nominee and geopolitical tensions trigger a broad market sell-off, with one analyst forecasting an 87% collapse in Bitcoin from current levels.
