South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
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%.
