Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Asian markets declined on Tuesday as renewed U.S. tariffs under former President Donald Trump fueled risk-off sentiment. A holiday in Japan kept trading volumes low, while U.S. stock index futures also slipped during Asian hours.
Investors remained cautious ahead of the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data set for release on Wednesday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook. The latest tariffs on aluminum and steel, along with existing levies on Chinese imports, intensified concerns over escalating trade tensions, potentially disrupting supply chains and slowing economic growth.
China’s Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.5%, while the CSI 300 lost 0.7%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.7% after a recent rally driven by optimism in DeepSeek AI technology stocks. The Philippines' PSEi Composite Index slid more than 1%, Singapore's Straits Times Index lost 0.5%, and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite fell 0.6%. India's Nifty 50 Futures edged down 0.1%.
However, South Korea’s KOSPI bucked the trend, gaining 0.5%. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 remained mostly unchanged, as weak consumer sentiment persisted despite expectations of an interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).
A survey by Westpac revealed that Australian households continued to feel financial pressure despite growing bets on a rate cut at the RBA’s February 17–18 meeting. Economists expect a 25-basis-point reduction as inflation nears the central bank’s target faster than anticipated.
With global markets reacting to trade tensions and monetary policy signals, investors are bracing for key economic data that could impact future rate decisions.
