S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketThe Bank of Japan kept its key short-term interest rate unchanged at 0.75% at its first policy meeting of 2026, maintaining borrowing costs at their highest level since September 1995, ahead of February’s snap election. The widely expected decision was backed by an 8–1 vote, with board member Hajime Takata calling for a hike while others viewed risks to the economic and price outlook as broadly balanced. Policymakers reiterated that rates could rise further, following two hikes in 2025, if activity and inflation evolve in line with projections. In its quarterly outlook, the board raised its FY 2025 GDP growth to 0.9% from 0.7%, citing support from a recent trade deal with Washington and Tokyo’s large stimulus package, which includes subsidies for electricity and gas bills, expanded local government grants, and higher defense spending. The FY 2026 GDP forecast was also lifted to 1.0% from 0.7%, while the core consumer inflation outlook for FY 2026 was nudged up to 1.9% from 1.8%.
