US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
U.S. Economic Outlook 2026: Growth Seen Strengthening as Fiscal Support Ramps Up 
U.S.-Indonesia Trade Deal Faces Uncertainty as Jakarta Reconsiders Key Commitments 
ADB Approves $400 Million Loan to Boost Ease of Doing Business in the Philippines 
Japan’s Q3 Economic Contraction Deepens as Revised Data Signals Stronger Headwinds 
Global Markets Steady as Yen Holds Firm After Japan Earthquake Amid Central Bank Focus 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Decision; Aussie Dollar Edges Higher 
Oil Prices Dip as Markets Watch Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
Australian Dollar Rises as RBA Holds Rates and Signals Persistent Inflation Risks 
Asian Stocks Slip Ahead of Fed Decision as China Deflation Concerns Deepen 
Oil Prices Hold Steady as Markets Track Ukraine Peace Talks and U.S. Rate Decision 
U.S. Open to Special Trade Terms for South Africa Under Possible AGOA Extension 
Gold Prices Inch Higher as Fed Rate-Cut Expectations Strengthen 
Wall Street Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Decision; Nvidia Gains on China Chip Sales Approval 
China Warns of Rising Global Risks as Tariff Pressures Intensify in 2025 
UK Job Market Shows Persistent Weakness Ahead of November Budget 
Asian stocks traded flat-to-lower on Tuesday, led by a sharp decline in Japanese markets as chipmaking stocks took a hit. Concerns emerged over DeepSeek’s new AI model, which rivals advanced AI technologies like ChatGPT but operates on older hardware, raising doubts about the demand for expensive AI chips and infrastructure.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index dropped nearly 1%, with major chipmakers Advantest Corp. and Tokyo Electron Ltd. sliding up to 10% and 4%, respectively. Tech giant SoftBank Group also fell 4.7%, while the TOPIX index showed minor gains.
China and South Korea markets remained closed for the Lunar New Year, leaving trading volumes muted. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged up 0.2%, supported by gains in tech heavyweights like Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba, which rose between 1% and 5%, reflecting optimism about China’s growing AI capabilities.
The sell-off in chip stocks followed a weak lead from Wall Street, where the NASDAQ Composite slumped over 3%, fueled by a $600 billion market value loss in NVIDIA. However, U.S. futures stabilized during Asian trading.
Australia’s ASX 200 remained steady ahead of inflation data expected on Wednesday. The report could shape expectations for potential interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Still, persistently high inflation raises doubts about imminent rate adjustments.
Meanwhile, Indian stock futures pointed to a recovery after the Nifty 50 index hit a seven-month low on Monday. Investors also await key U.S. tech earnings and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision this week.
The market sentiment remains cautious, influenced by global trends and regional holidays, as investors assess the impact of AI advancements on chip demand and inflation data on monetary policies.
