Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Asian stock markets extended losses on Thursday, led by steep declines in Japan and China, after reports surfaced that the United States may tighten export restrictions on China. The renewed trade tension between the world’s two largest economies weighed heavily on investor sentiment across the region.
A Reuters report revealed that Washington is considering curbing software-powered exports to China, including laptops, jet engines, and advanced technology products. The potential move, reportedly still under discussion, is seen as leverage against Beijing’s recent rare earth export restrictions. The development comes ahead of a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the fragile state of U.S.-China relations.
The news triggered declines across major Asian indices. China’s Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 dropped 0.6%, and the Shanghai Composite fell 0.7%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was flat, dragged by a 0.8% fall in the Hang Seng TECH Index.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, extending its pullback after a record-breaking rally earlier this week. The broader TOPIX shed 0.5% as investors booked profits amid uncertainty over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming economic stimulus package. The new plan, expected to exceed last year’s 13.9 trillion yen program, aims to tackle inflation and support household spending.
In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 0.3% to a new record high of 3,895.09 after the Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate steady at 2.5% for the third consecutive meeting. The decision underscored the central bank’s focus on economic stability, with analysts forecasting a potential rate cut in November.
Elsewhere, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 and Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded flat, while India’s Nifty 50 futures edged slightly lower. Investors now await key U.S. inflation data ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting, where a rate cut is widely anticipated.
