U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
South Korea Central Bank Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Inflation Concerns 
Asian Stocks Rally as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Progress Lift Market Sentiment 
Oil Prices Fall as Markets Await U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Decision 
New World Screwworm Found Near U.S. Border Raises Threat to Cattle Industry and Beef Prices 
Dollar Gains Slightly as U.S.-Iran Tensions Keep Forex Markets on Edge 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
US Dollar Slips as Markets Weigh Potential US-Iran Peace Deal and Oil Price Outlook 
S&P 500 Hits Record High as Tech Rally Slows Amid Iran Peace Uncertainty 
Wall Street Reaches New Record Highs as AI Boom and Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Markets 
ECB’s Philip Lane Warns Middle East Conflict Could Keep Inflation Elevated 
U.S. Launches New Strikes on Iran as Trump Signals Peace Deal Uncertainty 
Mega IPOs Like SpaceX and OpenAI Could Reshape S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 Portfolios in 2026 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar and Iran Peace Talk Uncertainty Weigh on Market 
Wall Street Hits New Highs as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
Gold Prices Hold Near Record Levels as Inflation Concerns Offset Middle East Ceasefire Hopes 
Asian stock markets traded in a tight range on Monday as a week-long Lunar New Year holiday in China reduced regional trading volumes, while weak Japanese GDP data pressured Tokyo equities. Market participation was further subdued with South Korea, Taiwan, and U.S. markets closed for holidays, leading to cautious investor sentiment across the region.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.2%, and the broader TOPIX index declined 0.8% after fourth-quarter economic growth figures fell significantly short of expectations. Japan’s GDP expanded just 0.2% year-on-year in Q4, well below the 1.6% forecast, highlighting continued economic fragility. The data reflected weak business investment, softer export demand, and sluggish private consumption. Although Tokyo introduced stimulus measures in late 2025, their impact on growth appeared limited.
Despite the disappointing GDP report, losses in Japanese stocks were somewhat contained amid expectations that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may introduce additional fiscal stimulus to bolster the economy. The weaker growth outlook also tempered expectations for further Bank of Japan interest rate hikes, even as inflation remained relatively sticky during the quarter.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index edged up 0.3% in light trading. CMOC Group and Laopu Gold surged roughly 6% each after being added to the Hang Seng Index, while battery manufacturer CATL advanced 2.5% on similar news. Conversely, Zhongsheng Group Holdings declined 2% following its removal from the benchmark index.
Elsewhere in Asia-Pacific markets, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.2%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index dipped 0.1% after weaker-than-expected non-oil export data for January. India’s Nifty 50 futures fell 0.4%, extending concerns over artificial intelligence-driven disruptions in the IT sector, which had already pushed the index down 1.3% on Friday.
With China’s markets closed for the week and limited global cues, investors remain focused on economic growth trends, inflation data, and central bank policy signals across major Asian economies.
