South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
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 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
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 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
U.S. Stock Futures Decline Ahead of Corporate Earnings
Stock futures in the U.S. edged lower on Tuesday as investors prepared for a wave of quarterly earnings reports. As of 03:30 ET (07:30 GMT), Dow futures dropped 82 points (0.2%), while Nasdaq 100 futures declined by 44 points (0.2%), with the S&P 500 holding steady.
Mega-cap tech stocks, like Nvidia, had pushed the Nasdaq Composite higher in the previous session, but concerns over rising U.S. Treasury yields and lofty valuations ahead of corporate earnings led to caution. Analysts from Vital Knowledge highlighted that higher yields and elevated stock valuations fueled profit-taking after the recent market rally.
Texas Instruments and Major Earnings Reports in Focus
Tuesday will bring earnings updates from several industry leaders, including General Electric Aerospace, Danaher Corporation, Philip Morris International, and Verizon Communications. Texas Instruments, a key semiconductor player, will also report, with investors keen to gauge the demand for chips, especially amid growing interest in artificial intelligence applications.
Last week, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. posted better-than-expected earnings, boosting chip stocks. However, concerns over the sector's outlook persist, especially after ASML's cautious sales forecast.
Federal Reserve Rate Cuts Remain Uncertain
Four Federal Reserve officials have voiced support for additional interest rate cuts, following the 50-basis-point reduction in September. However, disagreement over the pace of these cuts remains. Some officials advocate for a gradual reduction, while San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly warns that rates may still be too tight.
