Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Asian stocks fell on Thursday, dragged down by renewed trade tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% auto tariff set to take effect on April 2. The move sparked fears of escalating trade conflicts, especially with additional tariffs expected to follow.
Japan and South Korea led regional losses, hit hard by declines in automakers and tech stocks. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.1%, while South Korea’s KOSPI shed 1%. Major automakers such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai fell between 2.6% and 3.8%, despite Hyundai’s recent $21 billion investment in U.S. operations.
Technology and chipmaking stocks mirrored losses on Wall Street as concerns mounted over a potential oversupply in AI data infrastructure. Shares of major suppliers like TSMC, Hon Hai, and SK Hynix slipped up to 2.4%. Japan’s Advantest plunged nearly 7%. These losses followed reports that Microsoft canceled several data center leases, raising fears of weakened AI-driven demand.
In contrast, Chinese stocks remained relatively stable. The Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 posted slight gains, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.3%, lifted by local tech optimism. Recent AI advancements from Tencent, Baidu, and DeepSeek boosted sentiment in China, helping decouple Hong Kong tech from global headwinds.
Elsewhere in Asia, Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.5% amid concerns over commodity tariffs, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.5% to a record high as investors shifted to financials. Indian markets looked to open flat after recent gains stalled.
Overall, markets remain cautious ahead of April 2, when further clarity on U.S. tariffs is expected. Investors are also eyeing upcoming economic data and stimulus signals from Beijing.
