Prosper Okoye
European shares and the US dollar edged higher on Monday as investors looked ahead to a busy week of company results, while markets in much of Asia were quiet ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
Stock exchanges in Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei were closed, while trading in Hong Kong and Singapore was limited to half-day sessions. Markets in the United States were also shut for Presidents’ Day.
“With US markets closed, attention will turn to company updates later in the week,” said Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor. He said investors were watching closely for earnings from Walmart, which is due to report its annual results on Thursday after a strong run in its share price.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelEuropean markets showed signs of stabilising after a sharp, technology-led sell-off last week, which was driven by concerns about the huge sums being invested in artificial intelligence and whether companies will be able to make those investments pay off.
Those worries are in focus at a five-day AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, attended by senior figures including Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai. While enthusiasm for generative AI has boosted technology stocks, it has also raised concerns about its wider impact on jobs, society and the environment.
Sentiment was supported by fresh data from the United States showing that inflation eased slightly more than expected in January, increasing the chances that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates later this year.
“US inflation data was good, and the initial response in equities reflected that,” said Kyle Rodda, a senior analyst at Capital.com.
READ ALSO:
Naira Weakens Against Dollar In Official, Black Markets
Gold, Silver Suffer Historic Losses as Fed Policy Shift Jolts Markets
In Asia, news of weaker-than-expected growth unsettled markets in Japan. Official figures showed the world’s fourth-largest economy grew by just 0.1% in the final three months of 2025, putting pressure on Japanese shares and the yen.
The data comes after a recent rally in Tokyo stocks following the election victory of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and analysts say the sluggish growth could prompt fresh government spending measures to support the economy.
Oil prices were slightly higher, with Brent crude trading close to $68 a barrel, while the dollar strengthened against the yen.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
