UK consumer confidence, according to GfK, fell in February for the first time in three months to minus 19. Rising concerns about unemployment and cost of living pressures have made households less willing to make major purchases. Data show job insecurity, especially among young people, is increasing rapidly and nearly 1 million individuals aged 16 to 24 are out of work and education. Central bank policymakers, including Catherine Mann, are monitoring these developments when considering the timing of potential interest rate cuts.

Tokyo inflation fell to 1.8 percent in February, the lowest level in more than a year, largely due to energy subsidies from the government of Sanae Takaichi. Despite this decline, core inflation excluding energy rose to 2.5 percent and remained above the 2 percent target, indicating that underlying price pressures persist. This situation has complicated policy communication for the Bank of Japan because signs of cooling inflation are appearing alongside continued underlying momentum. Markets still raise the possibility of rate hikes in the coming months, although the central bank is likely to act cautiously while assessing policy effects.

Following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, the former leader of the Islamic Republic, the regime announced Mojtaba Khamenei as his successor. However, several days later, he has not delivered any speech or statement clarifying his positions. Trump has repeatedly called Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership unacceptable, stating, “we will see what happens.” According to reports, Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured in the first-day attack, and his health status remains unclear. Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, has also not commented on his condition. Meanwhile, attacks from both sides continue, and early Wednesday one branch of Bank Sepah in Iran was attacked. In response, a spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters threatened that Israeli and American banks in the region would be targeted.

Trump announced that the US is regaining real energy dominance with the opening of the first new oil refinery in 50 years in Brownsville, Texas. This $300 billion project, in partnership with the Indian company Reliance, will supply domestic markets, strengthen national security and US energy production, and create thousands of jobs. Trump described it as a major economic