Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
China Factory Activity Slips in January as Weak Demand Weighs on Growth Outlook 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Asian stock markets showed a mixed performance on Monday, with Japan and South Korea leading regional gains amid a rebound in technology shares, while China lagged despite signs of improving inflation. The positive sentiment was partly driven by a rally in U.S. stock futures, as reports indicated that a prolonged government shutdown may soon end. S&P 500 futures surged 0.6% in Asian trading, boosting investor confidence.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.2%, and South Korea’s KOSPI jumped 2.8%, supported by strong rebounds in major tech stocks. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also added 0.3%. Investors engaged in bargain buying after last week’s heavy tech-driven selloff, which stemmed from growing doubts over artificial intelligence-driven valuations. Key chipmakers led the rally, with SK Hynix gaining 5%, Samsung Electronics up 2.3%, Advantest climbing 3.9%, and Tokyo Electron advancing 4.3%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) rose 1% in early trading. The rally was further fueled by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s comments highlighting strong demand for the firm’s new Blackwell AI chips.
Japanese e-commerce firm Mercari Inc. was a standout performer, soaring over 10% after reporting robust quarterly results, becoming the top gainer on the Nikkei 225.
In contrast, Chinese markets underperformed, with the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite Index trading flat to lower. October data showed China’s consumer price index rising for the first time since June, driven by Golden Week spending, while producer prices continued to decline for the 37th straight month. Despite this mild improvement, China remains mired in deflationary pressure amid weak consumer demand.
Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times Index slipped 0.8%, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.7%—supported by ANZ Group’s 1.8% rise—and India’s Nifty 50 futures climbed 0.4%.
