ASX Proposes New Share Dilution Limits for Public Takeovers 
Asian Stocks Rally as Japan and South Korea Reach Record Highs on US-Iran Peace Deal 
Oil Prices Ease as Markets Weigh U.S.-Iran Peace Deal and Strait of Hormuz Reopening 
Trump and Iran Sign Framework Peace Deal in France Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions 
Gold Prices Slide as Hawkish Fed and Strong Dollar Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Advance as Nikkei Nears Record High Ahead of Fed Decision 
Canada Imposes 10% Tariff on Canned Vegetable Imports to Protect Domestic Industry 
Europe EV Demand Surges as Fuel Prices Rise Amid Iran Conflict 
Trump Questions USMCA Renewal as Trade Talks Continue 
US Stock Futures Slip After Wall Street Rally Fueled by US-Iran Deal and Chipmaker Surge 
Dollar Surges After Fed Holds Rates Steady, Signals Potential Tightening Ahead 
Asian Currencies Stabilize as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High After Fed Hawkish Signal 
Asian Currencies Steady as Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Fed Decision and US-Iran Deal Details 
BOJ Signals More Rate Hikes as Inflation Risks Rise Amid Energy Price Pressures 
Italy’s Economy Outpaces Eurozone Peers as Investment Spending Fuels Growth 
Dollar Hits One-Month High as Hawkish Fed Outlook Boosts Greenback 
Gold Prices Rebound on U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Optimism Despite Fed Rate Hike Signals 
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.
