Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian stocks tumbled on Tuesday, driven by a sharp decline in technology shares ahead of Nvidia's highly anticipated earnings. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index led losses, dropping 2% as investors took profits after a strong tech-driven rally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.9%, while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), a key Nvidia supplier, slid 1.4%, dragging the Taiwan Weighted index lower.
Investor caution intensified following a Bloomberg report that the Biden administration may tighten restrictions on chip exports to China. This came after former U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to increase scrutiny on Chinese investments in critical U.S. sectors, escalating trade tensions. Concerns over Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports also weighed on sentiment.
China’s markets struggled as the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite declined 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively. The initial boost from China’s AI-driven optimism faded, particularly after the January debut of DeepSeek.
South Korea’s KOSPI fell 0.4%, cushioned by the Bank of Korea’s 25-basis-point rate cut, marking the third easing in its current cycle. However, major tech stocks still faced pressure, with chipmaker SK Hynix sliding 2.2%.
Australia’s ASX 200 lost 0.6%, extending its retreat from record highs, while Singapore’s Straits Times index remained flat after lower-than-expected inflation data. Indian markets also pointed to a weak open amid growing losses.
Meanwhile, Japan’s TOPIX shed 0.2%, but gains in trading houses, fueled by Warren Buffett’s investment in Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Mitsubishi, helped limit losses.
With Nvidia set to report earnings Wednesday, investors remain on edge, watching for signals on AI-driven demand in the tech sector.
