Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
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%.
