U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Asian stocks climbed sharply on Monday, led by a 2.7% surge in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, driven by tech gains after the U.S. announced temporary exemptions on electronics from steep China tariffs. The rebound followed a strong Wall Street session on Friday, supported by Federal Reserve economic assurances and robust U.S. bank earnings.
S&P 500 Futures rose nearly 1% in Asian trading, with major tech firms like Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), which rely on Chinese manufacturing, expected to benefit. The tariff relief sparked rallies in tech-heavy Asian markets, with South Korea’s KOSPI up 1%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gaining 1.5%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index jumping 1.8%—notably due to its heavy electronics export exposure.
Hong Kong-listed tech giants with U.S. export ties saw sharp gains. Lenovo Group (HK:0992) led with a 5.4% rise, while Alibaba (HK:9988), Baidu (HK:9888), and Haier Smart Home (HK:6690) advanced between 4% and 5.5%. However, U.S. President Donald Trump warned the tariff reprieve was temporary, with plans to introduce separate duties on electronics and launch a national security probe into the semiconductor sector. Imports still face a 20% tariff imposed in March.
Mainland Chinese stocks were more subdued, with the Shanghai Composite up 0.8% and the CSI 300 rising 0.5%, as Beijing contends with escalating trade tensions. China recently retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. goods and is expected to unveil more stimulus to cushion its economy. Upcoming Chinese GDP data and other key Asian economic indicators remain in focus.
Australia’s ASX 200 added 1.3%, while Japan’s TOPIX also climbed 1.5%. Indian markets were closed for a public holiday. Singapore’s MAS, citing weaker-than-expected growth, eased monetary policy and cut its 2025 inflation outlook.
