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 offshore yuan strengthened to around 6.94 per dollar in January, extending gains for a fourth consecutive month, as exporters ramped up currency demand ahead of the awaited holiday. Chinese firms typically accelerate the conversion of foreign earnings into yuan in the weeks before the Lunar New Year to fund employee bonuses and seasonal expenses. The currency has also been supported by an improving domestic outlook, underpinned by China’s sizable trade surplus, renewed investor interest in local equities, and rising expectations of additional policy stimulus. However, the gains have been partially restrained by the People’s Bank of China, which has set its daily reference rate weaker than market expectations since late November, signaling an intent to curb excessive appreciation. On Thursday, the US Treasury labeled the yuan “substantially undervalued” and called on China to allow the exchange rate to strengthen in a “timely and orderly” manner.
