Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
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.
