Market Sentiment - Nasdaq futures are down slightly, indicating a cautious market sentiment following recent earnings reports [1] - There is a noticeable shift in focus away from NVIDIA's earnings, suggesting a broader market conversation has evolved [2] Economic Outlook - The current situation in Asia is characterized as a productivity boom, with expectations that companies will achieve more with the same workforce [4] - Despite some companies potentially reducing their workforce, the overall outlook suggests a wealth boom, which is viewed as a bullish indicator for the year [5] Japan's Economic Policy - The Bank of Japan is facing pressure to normalize its monetary policy, with discussions around potential interest rate hikes [6][9] - Japan's economy is described as low growth with a significant debt burden, leading to negative real yields, which diminishes the attractiveness of the yen [8][9] Geopolitical Factors - The geopolitical situation, particularly regarding Iran, is influencing commodity markets, with oil prices being closely monitored [10][11] - An upcoming OPEC+ meeting is expected to bring attention back to oil supply dynamics, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions [10]