Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian stocks opened the week with mixed performance, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s new 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports pressured markets. Concerns over escalating trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment, with China set to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.
South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.1%, with steelmakers hit hard—POSCO Holdings (NYSE:PKX) fell nearly 2%, and Hyundai Steel (KS:004020) dropped 2.5%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged 0.2% lower, while TOPIX declined 0.3%, with Nippon Steel (TYO:5401) down 1.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.4%, led by a nearly 1% drop in the mining sector. Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite plunged 2%, while India’s Nifty 50 started 0.4% lower.
Despite trade war tensions, China’s AI stocks extended their gains, driving optimism. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged 1.5%, fueled by tech leaders—Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) climbed 3.5%, Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) jumped over 4%, and Xiaomi (HK:1810) rose 1.5% after a record-high close. China’s Shanghai Composite advanced 0.4%, while the CSI 300 was flat.
Investors also analyzed China’s latest inflation data, which showed moderate CPI growth but persistent PPI declines, signaling weak consumer spending and industrial activity. This raised expectations for further economic stimulus, with potential interest rate cuts or infrastructure investments on the horizon.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures traded higher in Asian hours, offering some relief amid global market uncertainty.
