Bank of Korea Nominee Shin Hyun-song Calls for Flexible Monetary Policy Amid Iran War Risks 
U.S. Stock Futures Surge After WSJ Report on Trump's Iran War Exit Strategy 
Gold Prices Rebound in Asia Amid Iran War Ceasefire Hopes 
South Korea Manufacturing PMI Hits 4-Year High in March 2025 Driven by Semiconductor Demand 
Dollar Surges to Nine-Month High as Middle East Tensions Drive Safe-Haven Demand 
China Manufacturing PMI Hits 12-Month High Amid Energy Price Concerns 
Canada's Economy Grows Modestly in January 2025, Driven by Energy and Construction 
South Korea's Exports Hit Record High in March on AI-Driven Chip Demand 
Japan's Business Confidence Rises Despite Iran War Uncertainty, BOJ Rate Hike Expected 
Oil Prices Surge to Record Monthly Highs as Middle East War Rattles Global Markets 
Japan Business Sentiment Rises as Iran War Fuels Inflation Fears, BOJ Rate Hike Looms 
Aluminum Prices Surge Toward Four-Year Highs After Gulf Smelter Strikes 
Goldman Sachs Sees Value in European Real Estate Stocks Despite Sharp Selloff 
WTO Ministerial Collapse Leaves Global Digital Trade Rules in Limbo 
RBC Capital: European Medtech Firms Show Minimal Middle East and Energy Risk Exposure 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and BOJ Signals 
Bessent: Global Oil Market Well Supplied as U.S. Eyes Hormuz Navigation Control 
Asian stock markets delivered a mixed performance on Monday as uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs dampened investor sentiment. Trading volumes remained thin due to market holidays in China and Japan, adding to cautious market activity across the region.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index emerged as the top performer, surging 2.7% as bargain hunters stepped in following last week’s sharp declines. Gains were led by technology, industrial, and automobile stocks, with investors targeting companies linked to artificial intelligence growth. Market attention also turned to mainland China, where exchanges are set to reopen after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, an event that typically boosts economic activity.
South Korea’s KOSPI index climbed more than 1% to reach a record high, supported by strong gains in semiconductor stocks. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix drove the rally amid growing optimism over AI-driven demand for advanced memory chips. Reports suggesting Samsung could secure a significant supply agreement with Nvidia for high-performance AI memory chips further strengthened sentiment. Nvidia’s upcoming earnings report is also in focus, as the chipmaker remains a bellwether for global AI and semiconductor trends.
Despite positive cues from Wall Street’s previous session—where stocks advanced after the U.S. Supreme Court limited Trump’s ability to impose tariffs under emergency economic powers—markets stayed cautious. President Trump responded by announcing a 10% universal tariff under a separate law and later increased it to 15%. S&P 500 Futures fell 0.7% during Asian trading hours, reflecting lingering concerns over escalating trade tensions.
Elsewhere in Asia, Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged up 0.4%, while Australia’s ASX 200 declined 0.5%. India’s Nifty 50 futures slipped 0.4%. Safe-haven assets such as gold and the Japanese yen attracted stronger inflows as investors weighed the potential impact of renewed U.S. trade tariffs on global markets.
