Bank of Korea Nominee Shin Hyun-song Calls for Flexible Monetary Policy Amid Iran War Risks 
U.S. Stocks Surge on Iran War De-escalation Hopes 
RBC Capital: European Medtech Firms Show Minimal Middle East and Energy Risk Exposure 
Canada's Economy Grows Modestly in January 2025, Driven by Energy and Construction 
Gold Prices Rebound in Asia Amid Iran War Ceasefire Hopes 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and BOJ Signals 
South Korea's Exports Hit Record High in March on AI-Driven Chip Demand 
U.S. Stock Futures Surge After WSJ Report on Trump's Iran War Exit Strategy 
Oil Prices Dip as Trump Eyes Iran De-escalation, Hormuz Closure Persists 
Japan's Business Confidence Rises Despite Iran War Uncertainty, BOJ Rate Hike Expected 
South Korea's $17.3 Billion Emergency Budget Targets Oil Price Surge 
Gold Prices Rebound But Head for Worst Month Since 2008 Amid Iran War Uncertainty 
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand 
Dollar Surges to Monthly High as Middle East Conflict Rattles Global Markets 
WTO Ministerial Collapse Leaves Global Digital Trade Rules in Limbo 
U.S. Dollar Posts Strong Monthly Gain Amid Middle East Conflict Despite Late Dip 
Goldman Sachs Sees Value in European Real Estate Stocks Despite Sharp Selloff 
Asian Markets Hold Steady Ahead of Major Tech Earnings; Japan’s Nikkei Climbs on Political Shifts
Japan’s Nikkei Gains Amid Political Changes
Japan's Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indexes stood out among Asian markets, rising 0.3% and 0.9%, respectively. This rise followed news that Japan's ruling coalition lost its majority, leading investors to bet on a potential halt to the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) interest rate hikes. Major gains were led by Nippon Paint Holdings, which surged 24% after announcing a U.S. acquisition.
Muted Trading Across Asia with a Focus on Tech Earnings
Broader Asian markets remained largely unchanged as investors anticipated upcoming earnings reports from U.S. tech giants. Key reports from Alphabet are due Tuesday, with Meta and Microsoft on Wednesday, and Apple and Amazon on Thursday. These earnings are expected to provide critical insights into the health of global markets.
Economic Data in Focus Across Asia
Australia’s ASX 200 saw a 0.5% gain ahead of inflation data due Wednesday. Meanwhile, China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes fell slightly as investors awaited PMI data for October, likely to reflect on recent economic stimulus efforts by Beijing. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong gained 0.6% on tech buying, while South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.3%.
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