Fed Posts $77.5B Loss in 2024 as High Interest Rates Persist 
India Ends $23B Manufacturing Incentive Scheme Amid Slow Progress and Missed Targets 
Asian Stocks Climb as Tech Gains Offset Tariff Worries and Rate Hike Risks 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Nears Target 
Dollar Steady Below 3-Week High as Markets Await Trump’s Tariff Decision 
Japan’s Business Activity Slumps as Inflation and Trade Woes Bite 
Trump’s China Ship Fee Plan Risks U.S. Jobs, Higher Prices, and Supply Chain Chaos 
Japan Eyes Stronger Yen, Tax Perks for Domestic Stock Investors 
Australia to Extend Energy Bill Relief with $1.8B Boost Ahead of Election 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Trump Tariff Shift and China AI Boost Weigh on Markets 
Canadian Miners Flock to ASX Amid Pension Wealth and Global Instability 
UK to Slash £2 Billion in Civil Service Costs by 2030 to Fund Frontline Services 
Singapore Manufacturing Output Falls Sharply in February Amid Weak Biomedical Demand 
U.S. Futures Jump as Trump Softens Tariff Plans, Easing Market Jitters. 
Gold Holds Above $3K as Traders Eye Trump Tariffs and Key U.S. Data 
Oil Prices Dip Amid Tariff Tensions and Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks 
Dollar Retreats as U.S. Confidence Wanes and Tariff Fears Loom 
Asian stock markets mostly climbed on Tuesday, buoyed by easing fears over U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming tariff measures. Wall Street’s strong performance on Monday helped lift investor sentiment across the region. However, Chinese stocks bucked the trend, weighed down by tech sector profit-taking.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.7%, supported by export-heavy firms amid a softer yen, while the broader TOPIX briefly touched a nine-month high. Despite weak PMI data, Japan’s economy is expected to remain resilient, backed by wage hikes and stronger consumer spending. The Bank of Japan’s January meeting minutes revealed discussions of further rate hikes after a recent 25-basis-point increase.
Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.4%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index jumped 0.9% to a record high. In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.3% even as Hyundai Motor rallied on news of a $21 billion U.S. investment plan.
Futures for India’s Nifty 50 suggested a slightly positive open following Monday’s 1.5-month high, continuing a rebound from March lows.
Chinese markets lagged, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 slipping 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng tumbled 2%, dragged down by tech stocks after a sharp year-to-date rally. Xiaomi dropped 5% following a $5.5 billion share sale, despite strong momentum in its EV business. Alibaba fell 2.7% after Chairman Joseph Tsai warned of a potential AI data center bubble, amid intensifying competition between the U.S. and China.
While optimism remains for Asian equities, lingering caution over U.S. trade policy and rate outlooks continues to influence investor strategies across the region.
