Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
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 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Most Asian stock markets moved lower on Thursday, tracking a weaker overnight close on Wall Street, as investors engaged in profit-taking after recent global equity record highs. However, South Korean equities stood out, with the benchmark KOSPI surging to a fresh all-time high after strong earnings guidance from Samsung Electronics boosted confidence in the semiconductor sector.
U.S. stocks finished mostly lower overnight, reflecting cautious sentiment and profit-taking following record-setting sessions earlier in the week. During Asian trading hours, Wall Street index futures remained largely unchanged, offering little support to regional markets.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell around 1%, while the broader TOPIX index slipped 0.4%, extending losses after touching record peaks earlier this week. Investors appeared to lock in gains while assessing subdued cues from U.S. markets. Mainland Chinese equities were also muted, with the CSI 300 index declining 0.4% and the Shanghai Composite trading mostly flat. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index underperformed, sliding 1.4% amid broader regional weakness.
In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI continued its strong upward momentum, climbing more than 1% to a record high of 4,622.32 points. The rally was fueled by renewed demand for semiconductor stocks after Samsung Electronics projected record fourth-quarter operating profit, driven by booming demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence applications. Shares of Samsung jumped sharply, while rival SK Hynix also hit record levels on optimism surrounding its high-bandwidth memory business.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s stock market was steady as investors digested new trade data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the country’s goods trade surplus narrowed to A$2.94 billion in November, below market expectations, as exports of iron ore and gold declined while imports remained firm. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded largely unchanged.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index was flat, while India’s Nifty 50 edged down 0.2%, reflecting cautious sentiment across Asian equity markets.
