South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Asian stocks declined Thursday as concerns over high U.S. interest rates and fresh trade tariffs dampened investor sentiment. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng led the losses, falling 2.2%, as enthusiasm for AI stocks waned.
Wall Street provided a mixed lead, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high but showing limited gains due to weaker risk appetite. U.S. stock futures slipped after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors within a month, along with new duties on lumber.
Trade-sensitive markets reacted sharply. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.7%, while the TOPIX lost 1.5%. Major automakers Toyota and Honda both fell over 2% as concerns grew over their reliance on U.S. sales. South Korea’s KOSPI declined 0.6%, and Singapore’s Straits Times Index edged down 0.1%. Australia’s ASX 200 slid 1.3%, hit by both tariff concerns and stronger-than-expected job data, which reinforced expectations of a hawkish Reserve Bank of Australia.
Hong Kong’s tech sector took a hit, with Baidu dropping over 2% after weak earnings, dragging Alibaba down 2.5%. While optimism over AI had driven Chinese tech stocks higher in recent weeks, market momentum faded.
Mainland Chinese markets also weakened, but losses were limited amid expectations of further stimulus from Beijing. The People’s Bank of China kept its loan prime rate at record lows. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 fell 0.4%, and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.2%.
Despite the market downturn, hopes for a potential U.S.-China trade deal provided some support. However, Trump’s earlier 10% tariffs on Chinese goods in February remain a headwind for the region’s economic outlook.
