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Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
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Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Asian Markets Lifted by Chinese Stimulus Expectations
Most Asian stocks gained on Thursday, with Chinese markets leading the charge ahead of a government briefing on stimulus measures for the property sector. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes rose by 1.2%, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong surged by 2.4%, driven by strong performance in property stocks.
The briefing, scheduled for later today, will outline new support for China's property market. Since late September, recent government announcements have fueled optimism for an economic recovery, leading to significant gains in Chinese stocks. Investors also await China's third-quarter GDP data, due Friday, which is expected to provide further insights into the country’s economic trajectory.
TSMC Earnings to Highlight AI Demand
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is set to release its third-quarter earnings later today, a key focus for investors. TSMC, a leader in global chipmaking, is expected to report a net profit of T$300.1 billion ($9.33 billion), driven by increasing demand for artificial intelligence technologies. Despite a 1% dip in Taipei shares, expectations remain high for AI-driven growth.
However, recent forecasts from ASML, another major player in the tech industry, indicated weaker sales for 2025, raising concerns about the sector’s future outlook.
Mixed Performance Across Broader Asian Markets
Australia's ASX 200 reached a record high, gaining 1% on optimism over China’s stimulus and strong domestic labor data. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.6% after reporting a larger-than-expected trade deficit for September, impacted by slowing exports to China.
South Korea's KOSPI remained flat, with chipmaking stocks subdued ahead of TSMC’s earnings, while India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a slightly weaker opening as major firms prepare to release earnings.
