China to Cut Import Tariffs on Key Commodities and Medical Products From Next Year 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Volatility 
Yen Rebounds as Markets Assess BOJ Rate Hike Outlook and Intervention Risks 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
China’s Central Bank to Launch New Digital Yuan Management Framework from January 1 
Gold Prices Ease After Record Highs as Dollar Firms, Broader Bullish Outlook Intact 
Asian Stocks Rally as Fed Rate Cut Bets Weigh on Dollar and Fuel Precious Metals Surge 
Hong Kong Home Prices Rise for Sixth Straight Month as Rate Cuts Lift Market Sentiment 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
Silver Prices Hit Record Highs: How Silver Is Traded and Why Demand Is Surging 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
China LNG Imports Rise in December as Long-Term Contracts Drive Growth 
Asian Stock Markets Trade Narrowly as Year-End Volumes Thin, KOSPI Outperforms on Tech Rally 
European Markets Mixed as Pound Weakens and Major Corporate Deals Emerge 
China’s Iron Ore Buyer Pressures Mining Giants as New Supply Shifts Market Power 
European Defense Stocks Slide as Trump Signals Progress in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks 
U.S. Stocks Hold Steady After Christmas as Trading Volumes Stay Light 
Asian stock markets edged lower on Tuesday, tracking losses on Wall Street as a pullback in technology shares dampened investor sentiment. Market liquidity remained thin due to a holiday-shortened trading week, contributing to sharper and more volatile price movements across equities, commodities, and currencies.
The most dramatic move came from the precious metals market. Silver prices suffered a steep sell-off, plunging nearly 9% overnight in the largest one-day decline since August 2020. The drop followed an extraordinary rally that had pushed silver to record highs, raising concerns that prices had become overheated. On Tuesday, silver rebounded modestly, rising around 1.7% to approximately $73.46 per ounce after briefly touching $83.62 a day earlier. Despite the correction, silver remains up roughly 150% for the year, underscoring the scale of its rally. Gold prices were also dragged lower, falling sharply before stabilizing and edging higher near $4,356 per ounce.
Analysts pointed to factors such as stop-loss triggers, panic buying, and higher margin requirements from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as catalysts for the abrupt reversal. The pullback has helped cool speculative excess, which some market participants described as a generational bubble forming in precious metals.
In equities, MSCI’s broad Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan slipped slightly, though it remains on track for its strongest annual performance since 2017. Japan’s Nikkei and major Chinese and Taiwanese indexes also declined, pressured by renewed geopolitical tensions. China conducted extended live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, while Russia accused Ukraine of targeting President Vladimir Putin’s residence, further unsettling global markets and complicating diplomatic efforts.
U.S. stock futures were little changed in Asian trading, with European futures also flat. Meanwhile, currency markets saw the yen strengthen modestly as the U.S. dollar remained under pressure ahead of the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes. Treasury yields edged lower, and oil prices eased slightly after strong gains fueled by geopolitical concerns.
Overall, investors remain cautious as markets digest cooling commodity prices, central bank uncertainty, and escalating global tensions.
