Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Asian markets declined on Tuesday as renewed U.S. tariffs under former President Donald Trump fueled risk-off sentiment. A holiday in Japan kept trading volumes low, while U.S. stock index futures also slipped during Asian hours.
Investors remained cautious ahead of the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data set for release on Wednesday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook. The latest tariffs on aluminum and steel, along with existing levies on Chinese imports, intensified concerns over escalating trade tensions, potentially disrupting supply chains and slowing economic growth.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5%, while the CSI 300 lost 0.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.7% after a recent rally driven by optimism in DeepSeek AI technology stocks. The Philippines' PSEi Composite Index slid more than 1%, Singapore's Straits Times Index lost 0.5%, and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite fell 0.6%. India's Nifty 50 Futures edged down 0.1%.
However, South Korea’s KOSPI bucked the trend, gaining 0.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 remained mostly unchanged, as weak consumer sentiment persisted despite expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
A survey by Westpac revealed that Australian households continued to feel financial pressure despite growing bets on a rate cut at the RBA’s February 17–18 meeting. Economists expect a 25-basis-point reduction as inflation nears the central bank’s target faster than anticipated.
With global markets reacting to trade tensions and monetary policy signals, investors are bracing for key economic data that could impact future rate decisions.
