Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
South Korea Warns Weak Won Could Push Inflation Higher in 2025 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Asian Stocks Edge Higher as Tech Recovers, U.S. Economic Uncertainty Caps Gains 
Asian Markets Drop as U.S. Treasury Yields Pressure Tech Stocks
Asian stocks slipped on Thursday, weighed down by rising U.S. Treasury yields and weak regional economic data. Tech-heavy indexes in South Korea and Hong Kong were among the worst performers, tracking Wall Street’s overnight decline as investors reacted to higher yields and risk aversion.
U.S. Tech Losses Hit Asian Markets
South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.2%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 0.7%, both hit hard by tech sector losses. Rising U.S. Treasury yields pushed markets to expect slower interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, further dampening investor sentiment.
South Korea's economic outlook worsened as its third-quarter GDP growth missed expectations, while Japan's economy showed signs of contraction in both manufacturing and services sectors. The Nikkei 225 index gained slightly, but the TOPIX fell 0.2% following weaker-than-expected Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data.
Bright Spots in Tech Amid Broader Declines
Despite broader market losses, South Korea’s SK Hynix Inc. rose 1% after reporting record earnings driven by strong demand in artificial intelligence (AI) chips. Horizon Robotics saw an impressive debut on the Hong Kong stock market, with shares surging 28% following its $696 million IPO—the largest in Hong Kong this year.
China and India Show Mixed Market Trends
Chinese stocks also dipped, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 losing 0.4% and 0.6% after a four-day rally on optimism surrounding government stimulus measures. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.3%, helped by growing service sector activity, while Indian markets are set for a positive opening after three days of declines, buoyed by key earnings reports.
