Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Australia Jobs Growth Strengthens Rate Hike Outlook 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Gold Price Ends Lower for Fourth Week Despite Rebound as Fed Rate Hike Bets Strengthen 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Trump Requests $11 Billion More in Farm Aid as Rising Costs Pressure U.S. Farmers 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
South Korea’s KOSPI Jumps Over 5% as Samsung, SK Hynix Rally on Micron Earnings Boost 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Most Asian stocks edged lower on Thursday due to growing uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and weak economic indicators, though Hong Kong and South Korea bucked the trend with tech-driven gains.
Investor sentiment remained cautious as Wall Street closed mixed after soft U.S. labor data and concerns over escalating tariffs under President Donald Trump. Trump is expected to hold a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, which may revive stalled trade negotiations. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures dipped 0.1% in Asian trading.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.4% and the TOPIX shed 0.8%, dragged down by weaker-than-expected April wage growth, raising doubts about Japan’s consumption recovery. Australia’s ASX 200 also slipped 0.1% following disappointing April trade data, reflecting a sharp decline in commodity exports. Singapore’s Straits Times index remained flat, while India’s Gift Nifty 50 futures also signaled a muted open ahead of a possible 25 basis point rate cut by the Reserve Bank.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1%, lifted by gains in major tech stocks such as Alibaba, Meituan, and BYD Electronic. SMIC jumped 2.5%, tracking overnight gains in U.S. tech as falling Treasury yields and AI optimism supported global chipmakers. Taiwan’s TSMC added 0.2%, while South Korea’s SK Hynix and Samsung surged 5.4% and 3.3%, respectively.
China’s mainland indexes lagged, with both the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite down 0.1%. Despite a better-than-expected Caixin services PMI, weak manufacturing data limited gains. Market watchers expect more stimulus from Beijing amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade rift.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional markets, climbing 2% to an 11-month high on post-election optimism and a strong tech sector. The recent victory of President Lee Jae-myung ended months of political uncertainty, further boosting investor confidence.
