Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian stock markets slipped on Tuesday as investors reacted to overnight losses on Wall Street and grew cautious ahead of key earnings from artificial intelligence giant Nvidia. Tech shares led the regional downturn, while Japan’s markets saw the steepest declines amid mounting fiscal concerns.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell around 2%, and the TOPIX dropped 1.5%, marking their lowest levels in nearly two weeks. The sell-off intensified as long-dated Japanese government bond yields surged to multi-decade highs, signaling growing unease over how Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will finance her expansive fiscal agenda. Japan’s 30-year bond yield jumped 1.8% toward record levels, while the 20-year yield climbed 1.4% to a fresh high. Investors also anticipate Takaichi’s first major spending package, which may be announced this week. A sharp economic contraction in the third quarter added pressure for more government stimulus, including potential tax cuts to boost household spending.
Across Asia, technology-heavy markets posted notable losses before Nvidia’s highly anticipated quarterly results. South Korea’s KOSPI slid 1.8%, weighed down by declines in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1%, with Xiaomi tumbling more than 3% ahead of its own earnings release. Japanese tech investor SoftBank Group sank nearly 6% as fears of stretched AI-driven valuations intensified. Nvidia, now the world’s most valuable public company, has seen several major hedge funds trim positions amid talk of an overheating tech market.
Weakness extended beyond tech sectors. China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite traded mostly flat, while Australia’s ASX 200 slid 1.6% after the Reserve Bank of Australia signaled caution on further rate cuts. Singapore’s Straits Times Index eased 0.2%, and futures for India’s Nifty 50 pointed to a softer open. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% during Asian trading but did little to sway regional sentiment as investors awaited U.S. nonfarm payroll data due Thursday.
