Donald Trump dominates headlines with actions such as blocking defense contractors from dividends, backing a sanctions bill against Russia, and plans to control Venezuela’s oil sales. Markets seem unfazed by the chaos, with Asian stocks mixed and analysts attributing a modest pullback to a strong start to the year.

Samsung’s positive forecast for fourth-quarter profit boosts investor confidence in AI. The market reaction to Venezuela’s turmoil focuses on commodities, while other asset classes remain driven by economic data. Oil prices rebound after a draw in U.S. crude inventories, with Chevron seeking to expand operations in Venezuela.

In Japan, chemical manufacturers’ shares drop as China launches an anti-dumping probe into chemicals used in chipmaking. Despite this, the Nikkei remains near a record peak, up 2% for the year. Eyes are on Friday’s U.S. nonfarm payrolls report as investors predict two rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

Federal Reserve policymakers prioritize employment data in rate decisions. Investors anticipate a dip in the unemployment rate to 4.5% in the latest nonfarm payrolls report, which could influence rate cut expectations. The report could support the idea that rates do not need to fall drastically based on the unemployment rate.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Trump’s big talk falls on investors’ deaf ears