South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Asian stocks declined broadly on Tuesday, extending sharp losses from the previous session as investors remained cautious amid rising geopolitical tensions and political uncertainty. Regional markets were unsettled by renewed demands from U.S. President Donald Trump for Greenland, combined with limited cues from Wall Street due to a U.S. market holiday. Risk appetite across Asia stayed subdued, despite some support from Chinese economic data.
Japanese equities led losses in the region, with the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indexes each falling around 1%. The decline came even as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced plans to dissolve parliament on Friday and call a snap election for early February. While the move initially raised hopes of expanded fiscal stimulus, markets quickly grew concerned about how Japan would finance higher government spending, tax cuts, and increased defense outlays. These concerns triggered a sharp selloff in Japanese government bonds, sending the 10-year yield above 4% for the first time in nearly three decades, adding pressure on equities.
Broader Asian markets also retreated as investors reacted to Trump’s remarks suggesting tariffs on European nations unless Greenland is handed over to the United States. Trump further unsettled markets by not ruling out military force, reviving fears of geopolitical escalation after a recent U.S. incursion in Venezuela. European leaders rejected the demands, with some warning of potential retaliatory measures, heightening global market anxiety.
Chinese stocks saw modest losses, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite each down about 0.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.3%. Markets took limited comfort from China’s GDP data showing the economy met its 5% growth target for 2025, although fourth-quarter growth slowed. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.6%, dragged lower by a sharp decline in BHP shares after the miner warned of weaker iron ore prices. South Korea’s KOSPI outperformed, trading flat near record highs, while other regional benchmarks were mostly subdued.
