RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
China’s November Economic Data Signals Slowing Industrial Output and Weak Consumer Demand 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Asian stocks traded in a tight range on Monday, as investors weighed the potential easing of U.S. trade tariffs under Donald Trump and monitored developments in China’s artificial intelligence sector. Most markets showed little movement, with Japan retreating slightly on weak business activity data.
Japanese stocks slipped as the March Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed contraction for the first time in five months. The Nikkei 225 remained flat, while the TOPIX dropped 0.3%. Manufacturing PMI declined for a ninth consecutive month, and services also contracted, signaling weaker domestic demand and pressure from global trade uncertainties.
Meanwhile, Chinese markets reversed early losses on renewed AI optimism. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 gained 0.5%, and the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2%. Reports from Bloomberg revealed that Ant Group, backed by Jack Ma, developed cost-effective AI training methods using Chinese-made chips from Alibaba and Huawei, rivaling NVIDIA’s performance. This development fueled investor confidence in China’s tech self-reliance, lifting Alibaba shares by 0.5%.
Regional markets were largely muted as traders awaited clarity on Trump’s tariff strategy ahead of the April 2 deadline. Weekend reports suggested he may scale back tariffs to only about 15 countries with major trade imbalances, offering some relief to global markets. Wall Street futures rose in Asian trade, but sentiment in Asia remained cautious, given many targeted countries are in the region.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng stayed flat, while Australia’s ASX 200 saw little movement despite upbeat PMI data. Singapore’s Straits Times and South Korea’s KOSPI also hovered around flat, with the latter impacted by political uncertainty surrounding President Yun Suk Yeol. Indian markets appeared steady, with Nifty 50 futures pointing to a flat open after a strong prior week.
