South Korea’s KOSPI Plunges as Apple Price Hikes and OpenAI IPO Delay Shake AI Chip Stocks 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Japan Signals Preference for Low Interest Rates as BOJ Policy Debate Intensifies 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
Iran Attack in Strait of Hormuz Pushes Oil Prices Higher 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Morgan Stanley Sees Chinese Auto Market Recovery Gaining Momentum in Late Summer 
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 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Asian stock markets mostly declined on Monday as renewed trade tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump reignited global risk aversion. Investor sentiment weakened after Trump announced potential tariffs of up to 25% on several major European economies, tying the duties to demands that Greenland be sold to the United States. The comments sparked concerns over escalating trade tensions and broader geopolitical instability, pressuring equities across the region.
Japanese stocks led losses, with the Nikkei 225 falling around 1% and the TOPIX declining 0.5%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.8%, while Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 0.4%. Singapore’s Straits Times Index lost 0.5%, and futures for India’s Nifty 50 pointed to a weaker open, down about 0.4%. Asian markets largely mirrored declines in Wall Street futures, as S&P 500 futures fell as much as 1% during Asian trading hours, even as U.S. cash markets remained closed for a public holiday.
Chinese stocks were comparatively resilient after economic data showed better-than-expected fourth-quarter growth. China’s GDP expanded 4.5% year-on-year in the December quarter, meeting expectations and bringing full-year 2025 growth to 5%, in line with Beijing’s official target. Strength in exports and ongoing government stimulus helped support manufacturing activity, though fixed asset investment and retail sales data highlighted lingering weaknesses in domestic demand. As a result, the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite traded largely flat.
South Korean stocks outperformed regional peers, with the KOSPI rising more than 1%, driven by gains in semiconductor shares. Samsung Electronics climbed nearly 2%, while SK Hynix edged higher after Micron Technology announced a $1.8 billion deal to acquire a semiconductor facility from Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. Powerchip shares surged 10% in Taipei, boosting sentiment across parts of the chip sector.
Trump’s tariff rhetoric added to already elevated global tensions, pushing investors toward safe-haven assets. Gold prices surged to record highs as market participants reduced exposure to risk assets amid fears of prolonged trade disputes and geopolitical conflict.
