Hungary Industrial Output Beats Forecasts With 4.7% July Growth 
UK House Prices Fall for First Time Since 2023 
China to Inject $45 Billion Into State Financial Institutions 
Japan GDP Growth Beats Forecast, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Bets 
US Stock Futures Mixed as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Gold Prices Rise as Yen Rally Weakens Dollar 
China Inflation Accelerates in August as CPI, PPI Rise 
Asian Stocks Mixed as Korean Chipmakers Rally 
Asian Stocks Mixed as AI Chip Rally Meets Oil Surge 
UK Food Inflation Forecast to Hit 6.4% by Mid-2027 
China Boosts Gold Reserves by 650,000 Ounces as Prices Rally 
China Exports Surge 25% in August as Trade Surplus Hits $119 Billion 
Oil Prices Climb as Iran Threatens Gulf Energy Infrastructure 
Gold Prices Rebound as Dollar Weakens, Fed Decision Looms 
Japanese Yen Nears Seven-Month High as Oil Approaches $100 
Canada Retaliatory Tariffs on U.S. Goods Take Effect 
Brent Oil Tops $100 as Middle East Conflict Threatens Supply 
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Most Asian stocks declined Wednesday as risk appetite waned following U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats. Weak U.S. economic data also weighed on sentiment, while Hong Kong markets stood out with strong gains in Chinese tech stocks.
Wall Street’s losses extended for a fourth session as weak consumer confidence data heightened concerns over a slowing U.S. economy. Trump’s tariff threats on copper, along with his plans for 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico by early March, added to market jitters.
Despite this, U.S. stock futures edged higher in Asian trade, hinting at potential bargain buying ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release later in the day.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged over 2%, nearing a two-year high, as investors remained bullish on China’s artificial intelligence sector. Major tech players like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu led the rally, fueled by optimism over AI-driven growth. Gains extended into broader Chinese markets, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 seeing mild increases.
However, other Asian tech stocks struggled as investors turned cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.5%, while South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.1%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn), key Nvidia suppliers, also saw modest declines.
Broader Asian markets remained weak due to concerns over U.S. economic data and trade risks. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.3% after inflation data suggested limited scope for rate cuts. Japan’s TOPIX dropped 1.1%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained flat.
Overall, uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies and economic growth continued to pressure global markets, with investors closely watching Nvidia’s earnings for further direction.
