Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Asian markets mostly declined on Wednesday, echoing Wall Street’s weak overnight performance as hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data and renewed trade tariff threats from President Donald Trump rattled investor sentiment. Most indexes across the region slipped, weighed down by concerns over prolonged Federal Reserve rate hikes and global trade tensions.
Mainland Chinese markets underperformed after a mixed Q2 GDP report fueled fears of an extended economic slowdown. The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 both dipped 0.2%. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index defied the regional trend, rising up to 0.8% on strong gains in tech stocks. Optimism surged after Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) confirmed it would resume sales of its sought-after AI chips in China, sparking rallies in local AI giants like Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), and Tencent.
Baidu further gained momentum with a 3% jump in its Hong Kong shares (HK:9888) following news of a global robotaxi partnership with Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER). Analysts say access to Nvidia’s chips could significantly boost China’s AI capabilities through leaders like ByteDance and DeepSeek.
Still, broader gains were limited due to economic worries from the mainland. Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX both fell 0.2%, while South Korea’s KOSPI declined 0.7%. Australia’s ASX 200 slid 0.9% on profit-taking near record highs. Singapore’s Straits Times edged slightly higher, and India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures remained flat.
U.S. CPI data reinforced concerns over inflationary pressure from Trump’s trade policies, with the S&P 500 Futures down 0.1% in Asian trade. Trump’s latest move includes imposing 25% tariffs on imports from South Korea and Japan starting August 1, and a 19% duty on Indonesia, raising fears of escalating trade tensions across Asia.
