Japan Signals Resolve At 160 Yen; Joint Intervention Talk And BoJ Speculations

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday, a move aimed at strengthening ties between Washington and a European Union member state known for its criticism of the bloc.

At the heart of the discussions is a plan for Slovakia to build a new nuclear power plant. The contract, valued at an estimated €15 billion ($17.4 billion), could be awarded to the U.S.-based company Westinghouse as soon as next year.

Laying the Groundwork for a Major Energy Partnership

Ahead of the Mar-a-Lago meeting, the Slovak delegation will be in Washington on Friday to sign an intergovernmental agreement on nuclear energy cooperation with the U.S. government. This agreement is a critical step that is expected to formalize the path for direct negotiations with Westinghouse.

The push for closer U.S. relations comes as Fico continues to challenge the European Union on multiple fronts.

A Collision Course with Brussels

Fico, a four-time prime minister who survived a 2024 assassination attempt, has been a vocal opponent of EU policies on several key issues, including:

• Military support for Ukraine

• Migration

• Climate protection

• LGBTQ rights

His government has simultaneously sought to maintain business relationships with Russia and China. Fico is keen on securing Slovakia's oil and gas supplies from Russia, a stance that has put him in direct conflict with Brussels.

While Trump has urged European nations to reduce their energy dependence on Moscow, his administration previously granted a temporary exemption to Slovakia and Hungary, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another leader sympathetic to his political brand.

Fico's Stance on the War in Ukraine

Fico has held several meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding energy supplies. After returning to power in 2023, he halted Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine, arguing that it was "unnecessarily prolonging the war."

While he has described Russia's actions in Ukraine as a violation of international law, he also claims that Moscow was provoked by the West. Fico has indicated he would support a swift peace agreement, even if it required Ukraine to make territorial concessions.

This position was further highlighted last month when Fico, alongside Hungary's Orban and new Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, opted out of a plan to guarantee the EU's €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Kyiv.

Source: Bloomberg Europe

The French government is drafting a new version of its 2026 budget after a contentious parliamentary debate collapsed, forcing officials to seek a way to pass the fiscal plan without a direct vote.

Budget Minister Amelie de Montchalin confirmed that the changes would effectively create a new text, which the government intends to enact using constitutional tools to circumvent the deadlocked legislature.

"We are putting new proposals on the table and the prime minister will ask political parties what they think and how to advance," she stated Friday on France 2 television. "We don't want nonsense, we want transparency for all French people."

Parliamentary Deadlock Forces Government's Hand

The move comes after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's office declared on Thursday that a successful budget vote in the National Assembly had become impossible. The office blamed obstruction from far-left and far-right parties in the hung parliament, where no single group commands a majority.

To pass a budget under these circumstances, the government has several options outside of a standard vote. These include invoking the controversial Article 49.3 of the constitution, which allows legislation to be passed without a vote, or using a separate decree system.

Constitutional Options Spark Fresh Conflict

The choice of mechanism has created a new political dilemma. Prime Minister Lecornu had previously vowed not to use Article 49.3 to force the budget through, a significant concession aimed at placating opposition lawmakers who had ousted his two predecessors, Michel Barnier and Francois Bayrou.

However, the alternative path is now facing stiff resistance from a key political group. The Socialist Party, whose support is crucial for the government's survival, has come out strongly against the use of the untested decree route.

Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun described the potential use of decrees in stark terms on France Info radio Tuesday. "It would be extremely grave," he warned. "It would be a kind of creeping coup d'état."

This opposition is notable because the government survived no-confidence votes last year after using Article 49.3 for the previous budget, largely because the Socialists abstained.

What to Expect in the Revised Budget

According to Montchalin, the new budget proposals will reflect negotiations held with political parties in recent weeks, including the Socialists. She outlined several key areas that will be addressed in the updated text:

• Local Government: New measures for local and regional authorities.

• Taxation: Adjustments and tweaks to the tax code.

• Youth Support: Plans to provide additional support for young people.

Vietnam has officially broken ground on its first semiconductor manufacturing plant in Hanoi, a landmark project designed to anchor the nation's ambitions as a high-tech economic power. The facility is being developed by Viettel, a military-run technology giant, and is positioned as a core piece of national infrastructure for chip research, design, testing, and production.

Bridging a Critical Supply Chain Gap

According to Viettel, while Vietnam participates in five of the six main stages of semiconductor production, it has historically lacked capability in the most complex and crucial step: fabrication. The new plant aims to close this gap, creating a complete, end-to-end semiconductor production process within the country's borders.

Once operational, the factory is expected to serve a wide range of industries, including aerospace, telecommunications, automotive manufacturing, and medical equipment. It will also support the development of internet-connected devices and automation technologies.

A Clear Roadmap to Production

Viettel has set a clear timeline for the project's development. Lt. Gen. Tao Duc Thang, the company's chairman and CEO, stated that trial production is slated to begin by the end of 2027. The subsequent three-year period will be dedicated to perfecting the manufacturing process, optimizing efficiency, and ensuring the facility meets stringent global chip industry standards.

The plant is situated on a 27-hectare site, providing ample room for future expansion as Vietnam's semiconductor sector grows.

A Pillar of National Economic Strategy

This project is a cornerstone of Vietnam's broader strategy to prioritize semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The government has been actively rolling out incentives—including tax breaks, visa perks, and housing benefits—to attract international experts and drive investment in these high-tech fields.

These efforts are directly linked to ambitious national goals. Vietnam is targeting at least 10% economic growth in 2026 and aims to achieve developed-country status by 2045. Investing in advanced technology is seen as the primary vehicle for reaching these targets.

Building a Complete Chip Ecosystem

The government's vision extends beyond a single factory. Last week, the country launched the National Center for Semiconductor Chip Prototyping Support to foster a complete ecosystem from design to commercialization.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined specific goals for 2030:

• At least 100 chip design companies operating in Vietnam.

• One national chip manufacturing plant.

• Approximately 10 assembly, packaging, and testing facilities.

• Annual revenue from the chip industry reaching $25 billion.

Shifting from Assembly to Innovation

Vietnam is working to elevate its manufacturing base, which is currently concentrated in low- and mid-skilled labor. The country, already one of Samsung's largest global production hubs, exported $132 billion in hardware products in 2024. The move into chip fabrication represents a strategic shift toward becoming an advanced technology production center. U.S. chip designer Marvell has noted that the global boom in AI demand presents a significant opportunity for Vietnam to achieve its tech ambitions.

Currently, Vietnam hosts over 170 foreign investment projects in the semiconductor sector with a combined capital of nearly $11.6 billion. These projects are primarily focused on chip design, packaging, and testing. Government data shows there are approximately 60 design companies, eight packaging and testing projects, and more than 20 firms supplying materials and equipment in the country today.

The Trump administration is celebrating a key economic goal: bringing down oil and gas prices for American consumers. To mark the occasion, the official White House TikTok account released a video of Donald Trump dancing to Daddy Yankee's 2004 hit "Gasolina."

Under the banner "promises made, promises kept," the video highlights that gasoline prices have now fallen below $3 per gallon in 43 U.S. states. The White House also claims that prices in some states—including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado—have dropped to $2 or even lower.

This development stands in contrast to the average gas price during the Biden administration, which the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) calculated at $3.45 per gallon from January 2021 to December 2024.

Figure 1: This infographic outlines the key drivers and political context behind the recent drop in U.S. gasoline prices, contrasting current levels with historical averages and forecasting future trends.

Market Forces Driving Down Pump Prices

While the administration has made falling gas prices a priority, experts point to broader market dynamics as the primary cause.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at Gasbuddy, told CNN that "global supply dynamics—particularly OPEC's production decisions—have been the primary force behind the relief drivers are seeing at the pump."

A combination of high-level oil production in the United States and a steady supply from OPEC nations has been instrumental in keeping prices low. However, the Trump administration's foreign policy moves regarding Venezuela and Iran could also play a significant role in maintaining high production levels, potentially offsetting future OPEC cuts.

Geopolitical Wildcards: Venezuela and Iran

Two key international situations could further influence the global oil supply and, consequently, prices at the pump.

Venezuela's Uncertain Oil Recovery

The potential return of Venezuelan oil to the U.S. market is a point of debate among analysts. Some argue it would not make a significant difference, while others believe any new supply could have an outsized impact.

"Prices are set on the margin, and small imbalances in volume can lead to large shifts in prices," said Rick Joswick, Head of Near-Term Oil Analytics at S&P Global Energy.

However, this depends on Venezuela's ability to rapidly increase its oil output to over 3 million barrels per day. This is a formidable challenge, as current production is only between 800,000 and 1 million barrels per day, hampered by aging infrastructure and power shortages. Even with a proposed $100 billion investment from private companies, analysts believe it would take years for production to fully recover.

The Impact of Stability in Iran

Another critical factor is the stabilization of Iran. Washington is actively working to de-escalate tensions in the region. Despite prediction markets anticipating a U.S. strike on Iran, President Trump recently stated that the situation in Tehran was under control and the regime would not execute more protesters.

Following these remarks, Brent crude prices fell over 4%, demonstrating the market's sensitivity to potential disruptions in Iranian production. Jim Reid of Deutsche Bank noted that Iran, which produces over 4% of the world's oil and has a well-maintained infrastructure, is a major market mover. He assessed that a conflict there would have "the potential for wider spillovers in the oil market."

The Outlook for Gasoline Prices in 2026

Even without major changes in Venezuela or Iran, the downward trend in gas prices is expected to continue. De Haan forecasts that the average price per gallon will reach $2.97 in 2026.

He attributes this outlook to several factors, including "the unwinding of post-pandemic market distortions, expanding global refining capacity, and more stable supply chains." With these key elements working in its favor, the Trump administration may have more positive news on gas prices to share in the coming year.