Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Stabilizes, Yen Weakens Ahead of Japan Election 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
India Services Sector Rebounds in January as New Business Gains Momentum: HSBC PMI Shows Growth 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Asian stock markets extended their losses for a third consecutive session on Wednesday as rising geopolitical tensions and renewed fears of a “Sell America” trade weighed heavily on investor sentiment. Markets were unsettled by escalating rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential acquisition of Greenland, alongside renewed tariff threats toward Europe, ahead of his closely watched speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The risk-off mood followed a sharp selloff on Wall Street overnight, where the S&P 500 dropped more than 2% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 2.4%, marking their steepest daily declines in three months. Concerns that foreign investors may accelerate selling of U.S. assets triggered a broad retreat from equities, bonds, and the dollar, which recorded its biggest single-day fall in over a month.
In Asia, MSCI’s Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan slipped 0.3%, while Japan’s Nikkei plunged 1.2%, extending its losing streak to five days. European markets also pointed lower, with EURO STOXX 50 and DAX futures down 0.4%. U.S. stock futures showed a modest rebound, but overall sentiment remained fragile.
The global bond rout showed signs of stabilizing after intense selling driven by surging Japanese government bond yields and worries over U.S. fiscal sustainability. Japan’s 40-year government bond yield eased to 4.145% after hitting a record high, while U.S. 10-year Treasury yields steadied near five-month highs. Notably, Denmark’s AkademikerPension announced plans to divest $100 million in U.S. Treasuries, citing concerns over U.S. government finances.
Safe-haven demand surged as investors flocked to precious metals. Gold prices jumped to a record $4,806 an ounce, while silver hovered just below its all-time high. In currency markets, the dollar stabilized after a sharp drop, while the Swiss franc hit a record high against the yen.
Oil prices declined as expectations of rising U.S. crude inventories outweighed supply disruptions in Kazakhstan. Overall, markets remain highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, central bank signals, and Trump’s policy direction as global investors brace for continued volatility.
