Global financial markets adopted a wait-and-see approach as investors weighed economic data and geopolitical developments. U.S. stocks opened lower, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, amid mixed earnings and tariff concerns.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 initially rose on strong Q4 GDP growth of 2.8% but later stabilized. South Korea’s Kospi gained slightly, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped due to global trade dynamics.
European markets are set to open mixed, with the U.K.’s FTSE 100 expected to dip. Investors are awaiting key data, including UK inflation figures and flash PMI readings, to assess economic conditions.
The U.S. dollar weakened against the yen and euro, trading at 151.60 yen and 1.40 against the euro, respectively. Bitcoin held steady at 96,000, while gold surged to 2,945 announce as investors sought safety. Oil prices edged lower, with WTI at 70.57 and Brent at $74.61 per barrel.
