Oil Prices Slip as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Australian Household Spending Dips in December as RBA Tightens Policy 
Nikkei 225 Hits Record High Above 56,000 After Japan Election Boosts Market Confidence 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Asian Markets Surge as Japan Election, Fed Rate Cut Bets, and Tech Rally Lift Global Sentiment 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian stock markets plunged Monday amid intensifying recession fears and escalating trade tensions, as the White House stood firm on its tariff plans. Investors increasingly bet on aggressive U.S. rate cuts, with futures pricing in nearly five quarter-point cuts this year, pulling Treasury yields sharply lower.
President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on trade, saying no deal would be made with China until the U.S. trade deficit is addressed. Beijing responded by letting markets interpret its retaliatory plans, adding to the uncertainty.
S&P 500 futures fell 3.1%, while Nasdaq futures dropped 4%, deepening last week’s $6 trillion market loss. European futures also sank, with EUROSTOXX 50 down 3%, FTSE futures off 2.7%, and Germany’s DAX down 3.5%. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei plunged 6%, South Korea shed 5%, and Chinese blue chips slid 4.4%. Taiwan’s index dropped nearly 10% following a market holiday, prompting a short-selling curb.
Oil prices extended losses, with Brent crude falling to $64.23 per barrel and U.S. crude to $60.60. The flight to safety pushed 10-year Treasury yields down to 3.916% and boosted Fed fund futures, now reflecting a 56% chance of a rate cut by May.
The dollar weakened against safe-haven currencies, slipping 0.4% versus the yen and 0.6% against the Swiss franc. Meanwhile, inflation concerns linger, with U.S. CPI expected to rise 0.3% in March. Analysts warn tariffs may soon push consumer prices and business costs higher, eroding profit margins.
Gold dipped 0.3% to $3,026 as investors scrambled to cover margin calls, fueling fears of a broader fire sale. As earnings season begins, Goldman Sachs anticipates fewer companies will issue forward guidance due to tariff-related uncertainty and shrinking margins.
