South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Tuesday, extending a strong regional rally driven by gains in technology and semiconductor stocks, with Japanese equities leading the surge. Japan’s TOPIX index climbed 1.5% to a fresh all-time high of 3,534.46 points, supported by broad-based buying in technology, industrial, and export-oriented shares. The Nikkei 225 also traded near record levels, rising 0.7% as heavyweight chipmakers and electronics companies continued to attract investor interest.
Japanese semiconductor stocks were among the top performers, with Renesas Electronics gaining around 3% and Rohm rising more than 2%. The rally reflects growing optimism around artificial intelligence-driven demand, particularly for data centres and advanced computing, as well as tighter supply conditions in key chip segments that are improving pricing power and earnings outlooks across the sector.
Positive momentum spread across the region, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index advancing 1.2%, while the Hang Seng TECH index jumped nearly 2% on strength in major technology names. Mainland Chinese markets also posted gains, as the CSI 300 rose 0.5% and the Shanghai Composite added 0.6%, supported by improved risk sentiment and technology sector strength.
In contrast, South Korean equities edged lower, with the KOSPI slipping 0.4% after reaching record highs in the previous session. Investors appeared cautious ahead of Samsung Electronics’ earnings report due later this week, which is expected to provide key insights into memory chip pricing and AI-related demand trends. Despite the pullback, South Korean stocks remained near elevated levels, reflecting continued confidence in the semiconductor cycle.
Broader Asian sentiment was underpinned by a positive lead from Wall Street, where major U.S. indexes ended higher on Monday. U.S. stock index futures were largely flat during Asian trading hours. Elsewhere, Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.8%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.4%. Futures linked to India’s Nifty 50 traded slightly lower ahead of the market open, as investors weighed global cues and upcoming earnings.
