Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Near October Lows as Rate Cut Expectations Keep Markets on Edge 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Micron Earnings Boost AI Sentiment Ahead of CPI Data 
Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian stocks saw modest gains on Thursday, with Japan leading the region on renewed hopes of U.S. trade dialogue. Investors remained cautious, reassessing optimism over a potential de-escalation in the U.S.-China trade war after mixed signals from Washington.
Japan's Nikkei 225 rose nearly 1%, while the TOPIX added 0.8%, driven by reports that Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa will visit the U.S. for further trade talks. Automakers rallied after the Financial Times reported that Trump may exclude auto parts from a proposed 25% tariff. Toyota surged over 5% on this news and its U.S. plant expansion plans, while Honda gained 2%. Nintendo also jumped more than 5%, boosted by strong demand for its upcoming Switch 2 console.
Elsewhere, Asian markets reflected Wall Street's overnight gains following Trump’s hints at reducing tariffs on China and softening criticism of the Federal Reserve. However, skepticism lingered as Trump emphasized that any progress would require initiative from Beijing, a move Chinese officials have yet to signal. U.S. futures inched higher in early Asian trading.
China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite both rose 0.5%, while the Hang Seng dipped 0.4% amid profit-taking in internet stocks. Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged up 0.3%. Indian futures suggested a weak open, as investors monitored geopolitical tensions after a terrorist attack in Kashmir.
South Korea's KOSPI fell 0.6% following disappointing Q1 GDP data, which showed a 0.2% quarter-on-quarter contraction due to export disruptions from U.S. trade policies. This overshadowed strong earnings from chipmaker SK Hynix, whose shares slipped slightly despite continued AI-driven demand.
