Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
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.
