Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Oil Prices Climb as Trump Escalates Iran Pressure, Strait of Hormuz Risks Grow 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Malaysia Q2 Economy Grows 5.8%, Beating Forecasts on Strong Tech Exports and Domestic Demand 
Port of Los Angeles Posts Record June Cargo Volume as Importers Rush Ahead of U.S. Tariffs 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
Brazil Weighs IP Curbs, Patent Suspensions After New U.S. Tariffs 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production 
Asian Stocks Rally as Cooling U.S. Inflation Boosts Fed Rate Cut Hopes 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade on Wednesday as markets remained cautious over escalating trade tensions and rising global production. Brent crude futures for May slipped 0.2% to $70.93 per barrel, while WTI crude futures dropped 0.3% to $67.46 per barrel, hovering near a five-month low.
Investor sentiment weakened after U.S. President Donald Trump implemented higher tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico, intensifying economic concerns. The oil market also faced pressure from reports that OPEC+ will proceed with a marginal production increase starting in April.
Despite these challenges, crude prices found some support from China’s economic stimulus efforts. The country, the world's largest oil importer, set a 5% GDP growth target for 2025 and announced plans for increased fiscal spending and consumer subsidies. Additionally, Beijing will raise debt issuance to boost domestic consumption, aiming to counter sluggish economic conditions.
Market optimism also stemmed from U.S. inventory data. The American Petroleum Institute reported a larger-than-expected 1.5 million-barrel draw in U.S. crude stockpiles for the week ending February 28, surpassing forecasts of a 0.3-million-barrel decline. The draw raised hopes of improving fuel demand and tighter U.S. supplies after four consecutive weeks of inventory builds.
However, oil prices remained under pressure after Trump urged higher energy production both domestically and globally. The combination of tariff-related economic headwinds, increasing supply, and geopolitical uncertainty continues to weigh on market sentiment.
Investors now await official U.S. inventory data, due later on Wednesday, for further direction.
