Oil Prices Set for Weekly Surge as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Supply Fears 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Gold Prices Head for Biggest Weekly Loss Since June as Fed Rate Outlook Weighs 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
China Q2 2026 GDP Misses Forecast as Weak Domestic Demand Offsets Export Strength 
US Stock Futures Fall as Netflix Outlook, Chip Selloff and Iran Tensions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
ECB's Kocher Says No Inflation Spillover Yet From Iran Conflict, Warns Risks Remain 
Gold Price Holds Near Record High as Cooling U.S. Inflation Offsets Fed Caution 
US Stock Futures Hold Steady as Soft Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Fears 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
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.
