How the UK’s rollback of banking regulations could risk another financial crisis 
Apple Downgraded by Jefferies Amid Weak iPhone Sales and AI Concerns 
Cleveland Fed President Warns of Ongoing Inflation Challenge 
Canada Eyes India Trade Deal by Year-End 
Rising Bond Yields Pose Risks to US Stocks and Boost Dollar 
Europe Jet Fuel Deficit Drives South Korean Imports to Four-Year High 
Moody's Upgrades Argentina's Credit Rating Amid Economic Reforms 
Bolivia Approves $1.9 Billion IMF Financing Deal 
Investors Brace for Market Moves as Trump Begins Second Term 
Insignia Financial Shares Hit 3-Year High Amid Bain and CC Capital Bidding War 
UK Markets Face Rising Volatility as Hedge Funds Target Pound and Gilts 
Yen in Focus as BOJ, Fed Rate Hikes Reshape Currency Markets 
China’s Growth Faces Structural Challenges Amid Doubts Over Data 
Asia Stocks Rise on AI Demand as Oil Eases 
Fed Rate Hike Threatens Housing as U.S. Growth Leans on AI, Citi Says 
Treasury Yields Dip as Dollar Gains Amid Fed Speculation 
JPMorgan Posts Strong Q4 Revenue Growth Amid Market Rally 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Technology stocks led gains in Asia-Pacific markets on Wednesday, mirroring Wall Street's rally as concerns eased over the emergence of a low-cost Chinese AI model. Investors reconsidered the impact of DeepSeek’s AI, suggesting it may lack the scalability to disrupt the industry while potentially boosting demand for GPUs.
Japan's Nikkei gained 0.5%, snapping a three-day losing streak. Australia's ASX 200 climbed 0.8%, with tech stocks surging 2.2%. U.S. futures dipped slightly after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose 0.9% and 2% overnight, rebounding from a previous 3% drop triggered by concerns over Nvidia’s valuation.
Investors are now eyeing earnings reports from Meta (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), with questions surrounding AI-driven computing costs. The Federal Reserve's policy decision is also in focus, though rates are expected to remain unchanged.
The U.S. dollar stayed firm as traders rotated back from safe-haven currencies. The dollar index held at 107.91, while the yen weakened to 155.66 per dollar. The offshore yuan remained stable at 7.2763 per dollar. The Australian dollar dropped 0.4% to $0.6229 after weaker-than-expected inflation data raised rate cut expectations.
Oil prices held gains, with Brent crude at $77.47 per barrel and WTI at $73.82. Traders also monitored renewed U.S. tariff concerns after the White House reaffirmed plans for levies on Canada and Mexico, while weighing potential new tariffs on China.
Trading was thin due to Lunar New Year holidays in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea.
