Asian Stock Markets Start New Year Higher as Tech and AI Shares Drive Gains 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Asian stock markets extended their losses for a third consecutive session on Wednesday as rising geopolitical tensions and renewed fears of a “Sell America” trade weighed heavily on investor sentiment. Markets were unsettled by escalating rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential acquisition of Greenland, alongside renewed tariff threats toward Europe, ahead of his closely watched speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The risk-off mood followed a sharp selloff on Wall Street overnight, where the S&P 500 dropped more than 2% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.4%, marking their steepest daily declines in three months. Concerns that foreign investors may accelerate selling of U.S. assets triggered a broad retreat from equities, bonds, and the dollar, which recorded its biggest single-day fall in over a month.
In Asia, MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan slipped 0.3%, while Japan’s Nikkei plunged 1.2%, extending its losing streak to five days. European markets also pointed lower, with EURO STOXX 50 and DAX futures down 0.4%. U.S. stock futures showed a modest rebound, but overall sentiment remained fragile.
The global bond rout showed signs of stabilizing after intense selling driven by surging Japanese government bond yields and worries over U.S. fiscal sustainability. Japan’s 40-year government bond yield eased to 4.145% after hitting a record high, while U.S. 10-year Treasury yields steadied near five-month highs. Notably, Denmark’s AkademikerPension announced plans to divest $100 million in U.S. Treasuries, citing concerns over U.S. government finances.
Safe-haven demand surged as investors flocked to precious metals. Gold prices jumped to a record $4,806 an ounce, while silver hovered just below its all-time high. In currency markets, the dollar stabilized after a sharp drop, while the Swiss franc hit a record high against the yen.
Oil prices declined as expectations of rising U.S. crude inventories outweighed supply disruptions in Kazakhstan. Overall, markets remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, central bank signals, and Trump’s policy direction as global investors brace for continued volatility.
