China’s AI Manufacturing Boom Masks Weak Consumer Economy, Citi Says 
Asian Stocks Slip as Oil Rebounds Amid Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Trump Says No Hormuz Strait Tolls During 60-Day Iran Ceasefire 
US Stock Futures Recover as Iran Signals Progress in Peace Talks 
South Korea Stocks Tumble as AI-Fueled Rally Faces Profit-Taking Pressure 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low; Gold Falls and Oil Mixed 
Oil Prices Steady as U.S.-Iran Truce Uncertainty and Middle East Tensions Keep Markets on Edge 
Canada, British Columbia Launch $5 Billion Infrastructure Partnership to Boost Housing, Transit, and Healthcare 
Oil Prices Fall as Iran Peace Talks Progress, Hormuz Reopens, and U.S. SPR Hits 1983 Low 
Asian Stocks Surge as Oil Prices Fall and Strong US Dollar Weighs on Markets 
China Keeps Loan Prime Rates Unchanged for 13th Straight Month as Policymakers Prioritize Credit Demand Recovery 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Rally Pauses, South Korean Chipmakers Lead Regional Decline 
U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Helps Drive Gasoline Prices Down 15% From May Highs 
Yen Near 40-Year Low as USD/JPY Approaches Key 162 Level, Raising Intervention Concerns 
Russian Stocks End Flat as MOEX Index Hits New 52-Week Low 
New Zealand Fast-Tracks Gold Mining as Industry Revival Gains Momentum 
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.
