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Foreign exchange reserves dipped substantially in the latest week, driven by a drop in gold reserves while foreign currency assets rose. India’s foreign exchange reserves dipped $6.711 billion in the week that ended February 6 to $717.064 billion, after having reached a new all-time high in the prior week, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s latest data.Foreign exchange reserves dipped substantially in the latest week, driven by a drop in gold reserves while foreign currency assets rose.Over the past few weeks, the forex kitty has been largely in an uptrend. Foreign exchange reserves touch record high of $723.774 billion…

MUFG’s Michael Wan views the detailed US–India interim trade deal, including tariff cuts and exemptions, as positive for India’s external position. He sees scope for USD/INR to briefly break below 90 in coming months, but expects only a shallow INR recovery. MUFG forecasts USD/INR at 89.50 in Q1 2026 before rising back to 93.00 by year-end on FDI repatriation and wider deficits.Tariff cuts help but upside later”USD/INR: US and India provided more details around the interim trade deal. Overall we think it is a positive, and we forecast USD/INR at 89.50 by March 2026 and 93.00 by Dec 2026″”Overall, we…

Commerzbank’s FX analysts note that Singapore’s 2026 Budget emphasizes supply-side support, SME internationalisation and capital-market development, including fresh funding for the Equity Market Development Programme and Anchor Fund. The Singapore Dollar has outperformed most Asian peers, with USD/SGD nearing a 10-year low as the Straits Times Index hits record highs.Fiscal support and strong currency performance”Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled the 2026 Budget yesterday, with a focus on supply-side support and capital market development.””In FX, USD-SGD was little changed at 1.2630 yesterday.””The pair is approaching the 10-year low of 1.2580.””This year, SGD is the second best performing Asian currency behind MYR…

MUFG’s Lin Li and Khang Sek Lee note that China’s January CPI slowdown was heavily distorted by Chinese New Year base effects, with food and services dragging headline inflation. PPI deflation narrowed on stronger global metals prices and tech-related demand. They expect reflation to remain gradual despite anti-involution measures, while the PBOC’s “moderately loose” stance and upcoming easing should keep USD/CNY on a mild downward path in 2026.Base effects mask underlying reflation trend”Looking beyond the January prints, we think the reflation will likely remain gradual despite the ongoing anti-involution campaign.””In China, the PBOC has reinforced a clear easing bias for…

Standard Chartered’s Senior Economist Tommy Wu raises Hong Kong’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 3.2% from 2.5%, citing robust Q4 momentum, stronger financial activity and improving consumer sentiment. The bank expects a modest housing market rebound but remains cautiously optimistic due to structural shifts and global risks. HIBOR is seen lower in H1 before gradually rising again by Q4.Growth upgraded but risks still present”We raise our 2026 GDP growth forecast to 3.2% (from 2.5%), given the robust growth momentum in Q4.””We expect the financial industry to capitalise on Hong Kong’s regained impetus, notably in IPO fundraising and Renminbi internationalisation.””Consumer sentiment…

UOB economists Julia Goh and Loke Siew Ting note Malaysia’s 4Q25 GDP grew 6.3% year-on-year, the fastest since 4Q22, lifting full-year 2025 growth to 5.2%. They project real GDP growth to slow to 4.5% in 2026 as base effects and external uncertainties weigh, though domestic demand, investment, tourism and AI-related activity are expected to keep overall expansion solid.Domestic demand cushions slower 2026 GDP”Going forward, we expect real GDP growth to moderate to 4.5% in 2026 (from 5.2% in 2025, MOF est: 4.0%-4.5%) amid persistent external uncertainties and base effects.””Domestic demand should remain the key anchor, supported by continued government policy…

Silver (XAG/USD) price advances on Friday, bouncing off daily lows around $74 and posting gains of over 2.50%, yet it is poised to end the week on a negative note. A softer-than-expected US inflation report pushed the white metal higher, and it trades at $77.20 a troy ounce ahead of the weekend.XAG/USD Price Forecast: Technical outlookSilver is down 0.85% in the week, after beginning the week at around $80.00. Nevertheless, US stocks plunged on Thursday, pushing XAG downward, which has recently moved in sympathy with equities.The Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests that the precious metal is poised to trade sideways,…

Commerzbank analysts explain that India’s new CPI series shows January inflation at 2.8% year-on-year, back within the RBI’s 2–6% target band. The reweighted basket reduces food’s share and should damp volatility. With inflation contained and growth supported by fiscal policy and trade deals, RBI is expected to keep the policy rate unchanged at 5.25%.Inflation reweighting and policy implications”January CPI rose 2.8% yoy in the new CPI series with 2024 as the base year vs 1.3% in December under the old series with the base year of 2014.””Under the new CPI series, inflation returned to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI)…

Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee noted on Friday during an interview with Yahoo Finance that although interest rates are poised to come down further, moves on policy rates are contingent on further taming of services inflation.Key highlightsCPI data had some encouraging bits, and some concerns.We’re still seeing pretty-high services inflation.I hope we’ve seen the peak impact of tariffs.Strong January job data hopefully a sign of stability. Job market has been steady and only modest cooling.I think interest rates can still go down a fair bit more.We just need to see the progress on inflation.Rates can still…

The US Dollar (USD) lost major ground over the week, briefly gaining some strength after better-than-expected United States (US) jobs data, as the January Nonfarm Payrolls report showed 130K new jobs were added. Also, the Unemployment Rate fell to 4.3% from 4.4%. The US released a softer-than-expected January Consumer Price Index (CPI) report on Friday, weighing on the USD.The US Dollar Index (DXY) is trading near 96.80, declining from 97.15 highs following the release of soft inflation CPI data that fueled bets on a Federal Reserve (Fed) rate cut later in the year. Next week, the spotlight heads to Friday…