Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian stocks tumbled on Tuesday, driven by a sharp decline in technology shares ahead of Nvidia's highly anticipated earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index led losses, dropping 2% as investors took profits after a strong tech-driven rally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a key Nvidia supplier, slid 1.4%, dragging the Taiwan Weighted index lower.
Investor caution intensified following a Bloomberg report that the Biden administration may tighten restrictions on chip exports to China. This came after former U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to increase scrutiny on Chinese investments in critical U.S. sectors, escalating trade tensions. Concerns over Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports also weighed on sentiment.
China’s markets struggled as the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite declined 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively. The initial boost from China’s AI-driven optimism faded, particularly after the January debut of DeepSeek.
South Korea’s KOSPI fell 0.4%, cushioned by the Bank of Korea’s 25-basis-point rate cut, marking the third easing in its current cycle. However, major tech stocks still faced pressure, with chipmaker SK Hynix sliding 2.2%.
Australia’s ASX 200 lost 0.6%, extending its retreat from record highs, while Singapore’s Straits Times index remained flat after lower-than-expected inflation data. Indian markets also pointed to a weak open amid growing losses.
Meanwhile, Japan’s TOPIX shed 0.2%, but gains in trading houses, fueled by Warren Buffett’s investment in Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Mitsubishi, helped limit losses.
With Nvidia set to report earnings Wednesday, investors remain on edge, watching for signals on AI-driven demand in the tech sector.
