Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Hopes Fade 
Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Japanese Bank Stocks Surge as Bond Yields Fuel Rate Hike Bets 
South Korea, US Discuss Warship Building Cooperation 
U.S. 10-Year Treasury Yield Hits 2007 High as Fed Rate Hike Bets Rise 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Mexico-US Trade Talks Delayed to October as Tariff Negotiations Continue 
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Asian stock markets edged lower in early Tuesday trading after a sharp selloff on Wall Street rattled global investor sentiment. Heightened uncertainty surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policy and rising geopolitical tensions weighed heavily on risk appetite across the Asia-Pacific region.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan reversed earlier gains, falling 0.2% after a six-session rally, with South Korean stocks leading regional declines. Japan’s Nikkei 225, however, climbed 0.7% as markets reopened following a public holiday. Meanwhile, S&P 500 e-mini futures ticked up 0.1%, signaling a cautious start for U.S. equities.
Investor concerns intensified after Trump warned trading partners against retreating from recently negotiated agreements. His comments followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down emergency tariffs, prompting plans for new duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The policy shift has fueled confusion in financial markets already grappling with protectionist trade measures.
On Monday, the S&P 500 dropped 1%, erasing last week’s gains, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.1% amid growing fears about artificial intelligence disrupting software and other sectors. A bearish outlook from Citrini Research further pressured sentiment. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), a key measure of market fear, jumped to 21.01.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar strengthened 0.1% against the Japanese yen to 154.77, while the offshore Chinese yuan held steady at 6.889 per dollar. Fed funds futures indicate a 95.5% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at its March 18 meeting. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield edged up to 4.029%.
Commodity prices reflected ongoing uncertainty. WTI crude oil dipped 0.1% to $66.23 amid U.S.-Iran tensions and security concerns in Lebanon. Gold, a traditional safe-haven asset, rose 0.3% to $5,244.96, while silver slipped slightly. In cryptocurrency markets, Bitcoin gained 0.4% to $64,832, while Ethereum eased 0.1% to $1,861.
