Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
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 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
U.S. stocks closed sharply lower Wednesday, led by steep losses in tech and auto stocks as investors grew wary ahead of a potential announcement on U.S. auto tariffs. President Donald Trump is expected to unveil reciprocal tariffs targeting the car industry, raising concerns about inflation and global trade tensions.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) tumbled nearly 6%, while Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) slid 5.6%. General Motors (NYSE:GM) dropped 3.1% as the market braced for potential supply chain disruptions and rising production costs. "Markets hate the tariff uncertainty, especially when it pertains to autos," noted Jamie Cox of Harris Financial Group.
Chip stocks also took a hit, with Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) down 5%, dragging the PHLX chip index 3.3% lower. The tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 2.04% to 17,899.02, the S&P 500 slipped 1.12% to 5,712.20, and the Dow Jones dipped 0.31% to 42,454.79.
Six of the 11 S&P 500 sectors declined, led by a 2.46% drop in information technology and 2.04% in communication services. Despite some companies rallying—like Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR), up 3.1% on news of a $1 billion Family Dollar sale, and GameStop (NYSE:GME), which surged 12% after announcing bitcoin as a treasury asset—market sentiment remained cautious.
Barclays cut its S&P 500 year-end forecast to 5,900 from 6,600 amid slowing momentum. The index is down 3% year-to-date, while the Nasdaq has lost over 7%.
Investors now await Friday’s personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation measure. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari warned tariffs could fuel price hikes, possibly justifying rate increases. Trading volume was light, with 15.5 billion shares exchanged, below the 20-session average.
