The global economic landscape is heating up as central banks take center stage. In a surprise move, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) kept interest rates unchanged at 0.50%, as expected, but announced that it will begin selling its exchange-traded funds (ETF) and Japanese real estate investment trusts (J-REIT) holdings. This decision is aimed at reducing the BoJ’s massive asset purchases, which have been a key factor in the yen’s depreciation.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he will be “harsh” if he has to ask Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire in Ukraine. While Trump’s administration has been under fire for its handling of the conflict, the President remains adamant about his stance.

In other news, Trump is reportedly seeking to speed up large power projects to meet artificial intelligence (AI) demand. As AI technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, there is a growing need for more powerful computing systems and data centers. By accelerating these projects, Trump hopes to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-related infrastructure.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, stocks traded mixed as the area only partially sustained the momentum from Wall Street, where the S&P 500, DJIA, and NDX all climbed to fresh record highs. In Europe, equity futures indicate an uneventful cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures flat after the cash market closed with gains of 1.6% on Thursday.

Looking ahead, investors will be keeping a close eye on key economic data releases, including UK retail sales for August, German producer prices for August, Canadian retail sales for July, and quad witching. Additionally, there are several high-profile speakers scheduled to address the market, including Bank of Japan Governor Ueda, European Central Bank President Lagarde, Federal Reserve Presidents Daly, Miran, and former Fed President Bullard. With so many influential voices set to take the stage, investors can expect plenty of insight and analysis in the days ahead.