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Australia’s import prices increased 0.9% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025, defying market expectations of a 0.2% decline and reversing a 0.4% fall in Q3. It also marked the first increase in three quarters, as gold, non-monetary, surged 19.7% on safe-haven demand as investors and central banks built reserves. Meanwhile, crude fertilisers and minerals jumped 42.5% after sulphur hit record highs amid supply constraints and strong clean energy and agricultural demand. Metalliferous ores and scrap climbed 11.5%, driven by reduced zinc output from Chinese smelters and depleted inventories. Also, road vehicle prices rose 2.9% following annual reviews that lifted import costs. In contrast, telecom equipment prices fell 4.5%, as quality gains in new models and cheaper imports of older phones offset higher list prices. Overall, the rebound highlights commodity-led pressures on Australia’s trade costs, even as select sectors like technology provided relief.

Australia Q4 Import Prices Unexpectedly Rise

The Nikkei 225 Index climbed 0.2% to around 53,500 on Thursday, marking its third consecutive session of gains, led by chip and memory stocks following positive cues from Wall Street. Advantest surged over 10% on record Q3 sales and profits, fueled by strong AI-related demand for SoC and memory testers, and raised its full-year profit forecast by 21.4%. Memory maker Kioxia Holdings jumped 6% to a new all-time high amid a global rally in memory stocks driven by robust AI demand. Export-oriented shares also stabilized after recent pressure from a stronger yen, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (up 2.8%) and Toyota Motor (up 0.1%). Investors remained attentive to currency market volatility, as a strong yen typically weighs on domestic equities. Political uncertainty ahead of the Feb. 8 lower house snap election added to the cautious backdrop.

Japan’s Nikkei Rises for Third Straight Session

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) left monetary policy unchanged for a third consecutive review, keeping the slope, width, and center of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) policy band, as widely expected. While policy was steady, MAS raised inflation forecasts, signaling that price pressures remain a key focus ahead of the next review in April. Risks to growth and inflation are tilted to the upside, with stronger-than-expected expansion potentially fueling wage and demand-driven inflation, while geopolitical developments could lift imported costs. After easing policy twice in early 2025, MAS held steady as the economy expanded 4.8%, led by AI-driven semiconductor demand. December inflation stayed elevated, prompting 2026 core and headline forecasts of 1–2%. Economists see potential tightening if inflation surprises.

Singapore Keeps Policy Unchanged

Gold extended its record-breaking rally above $5,500 per ounce on Thursday, setting a fresh high amid continued weakness in the US dollar and heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Momentum strengthened after President Trump brushed off the dollar’s slide to four-year lows, signaling tolerance for currency weakness despite persistent tariff threats and renewed criticism of the Federal Reserve’s independence. The Fed, meanwhile, held rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, pointing to resilient economic activity and early signs of labor-market stabilization, while cautioning that inflation remains elevated and the outlook highly uncertain. The split decision, with two officials favoring an immediate cut, reinforced expectations that policy easing remains possible later this year. Gains were further supported by debasement concerns, as fiscal risks pushed investors away from currencies and bonds, alongside robust central-bank buying and sustained ETF inflows.

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