The US dollar is sliding fast, and it’s sending waves across global markets. This week on Market Focus Weekly, Emily Liu speaks with SGX strategist Geoff Howie about why the US dollar has weakened sharply amid talk of potential US-Japan intervention to support the yen.

They explore the outlook for US interest rates, why Asian currencies are suddenly rallying, and what’s behind gold’s jaw-dropping climb near US$5,600 an ounce. Plus, turmoil in Indonesia’s stock market and why Singapore’s STI is charging toward 5,000 points.

Highlights:

01:12 Fed outlook

03:13 US dollar back in decline

07:04 Gold pasts US$5,600

10:57 Indonesia’s MSCI problem

14:22 STI nears 5,000 points

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

With Geoff Howie, market strategist, SGX

Edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Emily Liu & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Weekly podcasts every Friday:

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

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Market news for January 29, 2026: US Fed holds rates steady, sees ‘elevated’ inflation and stabilising job market; US dollar falls, Korean won rallies; Indonesia shares hit by second trading halt after MSCI flags transparency concerns; STI could hit as high as 6,500 on extended rally, says JPMorgan

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 28, 2026: Trump says value of US dollar is ‘great’, currency hits 4-year low; Australian dollar surges; Ringgit rises to 2018 high; Gold rallies past $5,200; Indonesian equities plunge after MSCI flags ownership, free float concerns.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

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Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

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Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 27, 2026: US large-cap earnings raise Asian shares; the dollar still under fire; European equities climb, as does gold and oil falls.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 26, 2026: Yen surges as intervention risks lurk; Singapore dollar hits 11-year high against greenback; Malaysian ringgit hits highest since 2018 on AI, growth optimism; Gold tops US$5,000 as global upheaval fuels precious metals rally; UOB shares retreat 3.3% after reaching record high.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global markets faced another week of political uncertainty, from snap elections in Japan to fresh geopolitical threats from the US — yet investors barely blinked.

In this episode of Market Focus Weekly, Emily Liu speaks with Pete Tan of Phillip Capital about why markets seem increasingly unfazed by political risk. They unpack Japan’s bond sell-off, Trump’s back and forth over Greenland, and whether rallies in Chinese AI stocks reflect hype or a deeper structural shift.

Highlights:

00:59 Japan’s snap elections

04:31 Japanese bonds on SGX

07:43 Greenland chaos

09:32 Asian market rally

12:18 UOB’s strong outlook

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Send us your questions, thoughts, story ideas, and feedback to btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

With Pete Tan, portfolio manager, PhillipCapital

Edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Emily Liu & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Follow Market Focus Weekly podcasts every Friday:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 22, 2026: STI, Asian markets rebound after Trump backs off on Greenland tariffs; South Korea’s Kospi stock benchmark tops 5,000 for first time; Australian dollar scales 15-month high on strong jobs data; UOB jumps 2% as market rises.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

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Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Market news for January 21, 2026: STI, Asia markets retreat after Dow dives nearly 900 points on Trump tariff threats; Gold and platinum hit records as crisis over Greenland worsens; Japanese bonds may rebound after Katayama calls for market calm; Indian rupee hits new low amid capital outflows.

Synopsis: Market Focus Daily is a closing bell roundup by The Business Times that looks at the day’s market movements and news from Singapore and the region.

Written by: Emily Liu (emilyliu@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Chai Pei Chieh & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

Produced with AI text-to-speech capabilities

---

Follow Market Focus Daily and rate us on:

Channel: bt.sg/btmktfocus

Amazon: bt.sg/mfam

Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/mfap

Spotify: bt.sg/mfsp

YouTube Music: bt.sg/mfyt

Website: bt.sg/mktfocus

Feedback to: btpodcasts@sph.com.sg

Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

Discover more BT podcast series:

BT Money Hacks at: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

BT Correspondents at: bt.sg/btcobt

BT Podcasts at: bt.sg/podcasts

BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.