Wall Street Falls as Treasury Yields Surge, Oil Rebounds on Iran Tensions 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
US Stock Futures Fall as Treasury Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Japanese Bank Stocks Surge as Bond Yields Fuel Rate Hike Bets 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
European Stocks Fall as Bond Yields and Geopolitical Risks Weigh 
U.S. Dollar Hits Two-Month High as Oil, Treasury Yields Surge 
US 10-Year Treasury Yield at 6% Emerges as New Market Risk Threshold 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Asian Stocks Fall as Bond Yields Surge Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High as Yen Approaches 160 
US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
RBI Uses $10 Billion Currency Swaps to Drain Excess Rupee Liquidity 
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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.
