Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
RBA Unlikely to Cut Interest Rates in 2026 as Inflation Pressures Persist, Says Westpac 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Bank of Japan Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Silver Prices Hit Record High as Safe-Haven Demand Surges Amid U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
The S&P 500 closed higher Tuesday as investors balanced strong earnings with rising US-China trade tensions. The Dow gained 142 points (0.3%), the S&P 500 climbed 0.72%, and the Nasdaq surged 262 points (1.4%).
President Trump postponed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico but imposed a 10% duty on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to retaliate. China imposed tariffs on US coal, LNG, crude oil, and automobiles while restricting rare earth exports, escalating trade war concerns. Beijing also blacklisted PVH Corp (NYSE:PVH) and Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and launched an antitrust probe into Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG).
Wall Street remains cautious about Fed rate cuts, with Morgan Stanley now predicting only one in 2025. Meanwhile, earnings reports drove market movements. PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) dropped 4.5% on weak revenue growth, while Spotify (NYSE:SPOT) soared 13.3% on strong Q4 results. Palantir (NASDAQ:PLTR) surged 24% on AI-driven revenue forecasts. Estee Lauder (NYSE:EL) fell 16% due to weak Asian retail sales, and Merck (NYSE:MRK) slipped 9% after pausing Gardasil shipments to China.
All eyes are on Alphabet’s post-market earnings, with investors eager for AI spending updates amid competition from China's DeepSeek.
Oil prices dipped as trade tensions threatened economic growth. WTI crude fell 0.49% to $72.80 per barrel. Despite global concerns, OPEC+ upheld production plans, keeping output cuts in place until April.
Markets remain volatile as earnings and economic policies shape investor sentiment.
