Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
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 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
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 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Asian Markets Lifted by Chinese Stimulus Expectations
Most Asian stocks gained on Thursday, with Chinese markets leading the charge ahead of a government briefing on stimulus measures for the property sector. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes rose by 1.2%, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong surged by 2.4%, driven by strong performance in property stocks.
The briefing, scheduled for later today, will outline new support for China's property market. Since late September, recent government announcements have fueled optimism for an economic recovery, leading to significant gains in Chinese stocks. Investors also await China's third-quarter GDP data, due Friday, which is expected to provide further insights into the country’s economic trajectory.
TSMC Earnings to Highlight AI Demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to release its third-quarter earnings later today, a key focus for investors. TSMC, a leader in global chipmaking, is expected to report a net profit of T$300.1 billion ($9.33 billion), driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence technologies. Despite a 1% dip in Taipei shares, expectations remain high for AI-driven growth.
However, recent forecasts from ASML, another major player in the tech industry, indicated weaker sales for 2025, raising concerns about the sector’s future outlook.
Mixed Performance Across Broader Asian Markets
Australia's ASX 200 reached a record high, gaining 1% on optimism over China’s stimulus and strong domestic labor data. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% after reporting a larger-than-expected trade deficit for September, impacted by slowing exports to China.
South Korea's KOSPI remained flat, with chipmaking stocks subdued ahead of TSMC’s earnings, while India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a slightly weaker opening as major firms prepare to release earnings.
