Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
World Bank Approves $1.1 Billion Emergency Funding for Bangladesh Amid Food and Energy Price Pressures 
Oil Prices Rebound as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Return After Ship Attack Near Oman 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Gold Drops Below $4,000 as Strong US Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Pressure Bullion 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
Asian stocks tumbled Friday, led by steep declines in Japan and South Korea, as tech shares mirrored Wall Street’s Nvidia-driven slump. Investors also assessed Tokyo’s latest inflation data ahead of the key U.S. PCE inflation report, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 3.2%, hitting its lowest since September 2024. SoftBank (TYO:9984) plunged 5.3%, while Tokyo Electron (TYO:8035) lost 5.1% and Panasonic (TYO:6752) fell 2%. South Korea’s KOSPI declined 3.1%, with Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) down 2.2% and SK Hynix (KS:000660) sinking 4.7%. India’s Nifty 50 fell 1%, and Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 1.1%.
In China, the Shanghai Composite dropped over 1%, while the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 fell 0.9%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 2.6% but remained on track for a 15% gain in February, fueled by investor enthusiasm for DeepSeek’s AI advancements. Despite U.S. tariff concerns, Chinese tech stocks surged, with Alibaba (HK:9988) soaring 48% and Xiaomi (HK:1810) up 37% this month.
Tokyo’s core CPI rose 2.2% in February, easing from January’s 2.5% but staying above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for the fourth month. Japan’s industrial output fell 1.1% in January, though manufacturers expect a 5% rebound in February. Meanwhile, retail sales rose 3.9% YoY, signaling steady consumer spending.
Global markets remain volatile as investors weigh inflation data, interest rate expectations, and tech sector performance.
