Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian shares fluctuated on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, while investors awaited the outcome of a crucial meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was flat, while S&P 500 e-mini futures rose 0.1% following a modest Wall Street pullback that ended a four-day winning streak.
Global markets remain cautious amid a wave of central bank decisions that will determine the future path of interest rates, as the Trump administration maintains tariffs on foreign imports. The Nikkei 225 slipped 0.1% ahead of the Bank of Japan’s policy decision, where rates are expected to stay unchanged.
The U.S. dollar held steady at 152.70 yen after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged faster rate hikes to prevent currency weakness. Analysts suggested his comments could influence BOJ’s communication on future policy. Meanwhile, the dollar index climbed to a two-week high of 99.131, while the euro was unchanged at $1.16035 before the European Central Bank’s meeting.
The Fed’s cautious tone reflected uncertainty from the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which has limited access to key economic data. Market expectations for another rate cut have dropped sharply, with futures now pricing in a 67.8% chance that rates will remain steady at the next meeting, compared to 9.1% a day earlier.
The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury rose to 4.0757%, a three-week high, while gold gained 0.4% to $3,944.25 per ounce. Brent crude remained stable at $64.92 a barrel.
In corporate news, tech stocks faced pressure as AI-related costs weighed on investor sentiment. Meta forecast higher expenses, and Microsoft reported record AI infrastructure spending of $35 billion. However, Alphabet shares rose after exceeding revenue expectations.
