Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Brace for Jobs and Inflation Data 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Indian Refiners Scale Back Russian Oil Imports as U.S.-India Trade Deal Advances 
Yen Slides as Japan Election Boosts Fiscal Stimulus Expectations 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Climb in Asian Trade as Markets Eye Key U.S. Economic Data 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian stock markets traded mixed on Monday as investors weighed global cues, central bank policies, and corporate updates. Japanese equities rebounded, with the Nikkei 225 climbing 1.5% and TOPIX up 0.9%, recovering from last week’s drop. The bounce came despite the Bank of Japan’s hawkish signals, as it kept interest rates unchanged but announced plans to gradually reduce its massive ETF holdings. Losses were limited after BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda struck a moderate tone, avoiding commitments on near-term rate hikes.
South Korea’s KOSPI advanced 0.9%, supported by Samsung Electronics, which surged nearly 5% on reports it secured NVIDIA’s approval to supply advanced AI memory chips. The move positions Samsung to challenge SK Hynix and Micron in the fast-growing artificial intelligence semiconductor market, boosting sentiment in the tech-heavy index.
In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index extended losses for a third straight session as investors booked profits in major internet stocks, despite continued demand for local chipmakers. Mainland Chinese shares underperformed, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite flat after the People’s Bank of China left its loan prime rate unchanged. Investors remained focused on U.S.-China trade dialogue following progress on TikTok’s U.S. operations.
Elsewhere, Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.4%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed. Futures for India’s Nifty 50 slipped 0.1% as markets assessed the potential fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on H-1B visas, a policy shift expected to pressure India’s vital IT and outsourcing sector.
Global sentiment was tempered despite record Wall Street highs last week following a Federal Reserve rate cut. U.S. S&P 500 futures slipped 0.1% in Asian trading, as attention turned to upcoming economic data and remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
