Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
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 
Mainland Chinese stocks surged to multi-year highs after returning from an extended break, fueled by investor excitement over Beijing’s aggressive stimulus measures. The CSI300 blue-chip index jumped 5.5% in early trade to reach its highest point since July 2022, while the Shanghai Composite Index climbed 5.2%, marking its highest level since December 2021.
However, this optimism did not extend to other Asian markets. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 2.5%, driven by a 5.3% slump in its Mainland Properties Index. Overall, MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index outside Japan fell by more than 1%.
Experts suggest that the Chinese market’s rise reflects investor confidence in the local market, while profit-taking could be behind Hong Kong's decline. Investors now await further details on China's stimulus pledges.
Meanwhile, fears of a Middle East conflict disrupted global markets. Brent crude briefly surged above $90 per barrel due to concerns about oil supply disruptions, but later retreated. Additionally, U.S. Treasury yields held steady as investors reconsidered the likelihood of further interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve following strong U.S. jobs data.
