Global Markets See Weekly Declines Amid Q4 Earnings and Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Global Equity Markets - Major global stock indices closed the week lower, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) falling 0.54% to 49087, NASDAQ Composite (IXIC) dropping 0.82% to 25319, and S&P 500 (SPX) declining 0.38% [2][8] - European markets mirrored this trend, with Germany's DAX falling 0.97% to 25077, FTSE 100 dropping 0.83% to 10171, and Hang Seng Index shedding 0.61% to 26469 [3][8] - Despite solid earnings from major banks, investor sentiment was affected by diminishing expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, with the probability of a 25-basis-point cut in March easing to 23% from 30% [2][8] Commodities Market - Commodities saw gains, with Gold (XAU) rising 0.55% to $4623 and US Oil (CL=F) increasing 0.64% to $5964, driven by softer U.S. inflation data and ongoing geopolitical tensions [4][8] - The EUR/USD currency pair experienced a slight dip of 0.18% to 11577 [4] Geopolitical Developments - The Syrian army announced control over the Koniko natural gas field, a significant energy asset previously capable of producing up to 13 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, following the withdrawal of US forces [5][8] - The European Union warned of a "dangerous downward spiral" in transatlantic trade relations due to former President Trump's proposed tariffs on European countries, starting at 10% from February 1st and potentially rising to 25% in June [6][7][8] Turkey's Honey Industry - Turkey's honey industry is facing severe pressure from fake honey products, leading to intense price competition, with fake honey selling for approximately EUR1.60 per kilogram compared to authentic honey reaching up to EUR8 per kilogram [9][10] - Authorities have seized 8,150 tons of glucose, fructose, and sugar used in counterfeit production, along with 100,000 fake honey labels, highlighting the industry's struggle with reputation and quality [10] Japan's Nuclear Energy Policy - Japan is moving forward with the restart of its nuclear power plants, including the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, aiming for nuclear power to account for 20% of its energy supply by 2041 [11] - This shift in energy policy follows substantial safety upgrades and a 1.2 trillion yen investment by TEPCO [11]