Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge as Trump Taps Kevin Warsh for Fed Chair 
Russia Stocks End Flat as MOEX Closes Unchanged Amid Mixed Global Signals 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
India Budget 2025 Highlights Manufacturing Push but Falls Short of Market Expectations 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
U.S.–Venezuela Relations Show Signs of Thaw as Top Envoy Visits Caracas 
Asian stock markets traded mostly lower on Tuesday as investors weighed new U.S. diplomatic moves in the region and awaited key central bank decisions later this week. Wall Street’s major indexes hit record highs overnight, boosted by strong gains in the tech sector, while U.S. stock futures held steady during Asian trading hours.
In Tokyo, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, to discuss defense cooperation, trade, and a $550 billion U.S. investment package unveiled earlier this year. The plan targets joint projects in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced technology. Despite optimism surrounding the meeting, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4% after reaching an all-time high of 50,549.60 points in the previous session, while the broader TOPIX index declined 0.6%.
Investor sentiment across Asia was supported by progress in U.S.-China trade relations. Negotiators in Kuala Lumpur finalized a draft framework to avert new tariffs, which will be reviewed later this week when Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both leaders are expected to finalize the deal’s details during the summit.
China’s Shanghai Composite and the blue-chip CSI 300 were little changed, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dipped 0.3%. South Korea’s KOSPI led regional losses, falling over 1% despite stronger-than-expected third-quarter GDP growth—the fastest pace in more than a year. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.6%, diverging from the broader regional trend. India’s Nifty 50 futures were mostly flat ahead of market open.
Attention now turns to major central bank decisions. The U.S. Federal Reserve began its two-day meeting Tuesday and is widely expected to cut rates by 25 basis points amid cooling inflation and labor market weakness. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan is expected to maintain its current policy stance when it announces its decision Wednesday, as internal divisions remain but have not shifted the board’s majority outlook.
