South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Asian stocks traded mixed Monday as investors remained cautious ahead of new U.S. tariffs, while Chinese markets fell on rising deflation concerns.
Futures for major U.S. indices dropped during Asian trading hours after Wall Street ended the previous week lower. Investor sentiment weakened after President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and raised Chinese tariffs to 20%. While he later delayed levies on Mexico and Canada by four weeks, he maintained a firm stance on China. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to tariff pressure, citing concerns over fentanyl trade.
South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.6%, and the Philippines’ PSEi gained 0.7%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.7%, while TOPIX edged up 0.2%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.3%. In contrast, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite dropped 0.8%, Thailand’s SET Index slipped 0.2%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures declined 0.4%.
Chinese stocks underperformed as economic data pointed to worsening deflation. The Shanghai Composite fell 0.6%, while the CSI 300 lost 0.8%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index plunged 1.7%.
China’s consumer price index (CPI) shrank 0.7% year-on-year in February, marking its first decline in 13 months and exceeding the expected 0.4% drop. The producer price index (PPI) fell 2.2%, slightly improving from January’s 2.3% decrease but missing the forecasted 2.0% drop.
These figures raise concerns about China’s economic slowdown as policymakers at the National People’s Congress discuss stimulus measures to revive growth. The deflationary trend may pressure Beijing to roll out stronger policies to support domestic demand and stabilize the economy.
