Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
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 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Asian stocks climbed on Monday as investors reacted to stronger-than-expected U.S. job numbers and awaited high-stakes trade talks between the U.S. and China. Wall Street’s Friday rally, driven by the May jobs report, eased concerns over economic fallout from President Trump’s tariff policies, boosting global market sentiment.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan rose 0.5%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index jumped 1.3%, breaching 24,000 for the first time since March. Japan’s Nikkei gained 0.9%. The U.S. dollar slipped 0.3% against the yen to 144.39 after Friday’s 0.9% surge. The euro advanced 0.2% to $1.1422.
Despite market optimism, political unrest in California dampened risk appetite. Over the weekend, President Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid ongoing immigration-related protests.
Investors are closely watching trade talks in London where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. The meeting will focus on critical minerals, a key area of economic tension, following a rare call between Trump and President Xi Jinping.
May’s U.S. employment report showed 139,000 new jobs, topping forecasts of 130,000 but below April’s 147,000. Attention now shifts to U.S. inflation data due Wednesday, which could influence Federal Reserve rate cut expectations.
Analysts say trade policy remains a major macroeconomic uncertainty. Positive signals from the talks could extend market gains. However, rising social unrest in the U.S. adds caution to the outlook.
Elsewhere, spot gold fell 0.2% to $3,303.19 an ounce, while U.S. crude held steady at $64.56 a barrel after recent gains.
