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Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
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 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Most Asian stock markets moved lower on Thursday, tracking a weaker overnight close on Wall Street, as investors engaged in profit-taking after recent global equity record highs. However, South Korean equities stood out, with the benchmark KOSPI surging to a fresh all-time high after strong earnings guidance from Samsung Electronics boosted confidence in the semiconductor sector.
U.S. stocks finished mostly lower overnight, reflecting cautious sentiment and profit-taking following record-setting sessions earlier in the week. During Asian trading hours, Wall Street index futures remained largely unchanged, offering little support to regional markets.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell around 1%, while the broader TOPIX index slipped 0.4%, extending losses after touching record peaks earlier this week. Investors appeared to lock in gains while assessing subdued cues from U.S. markets. Mainland Chinese equities were also muted, with the CSI 300 index declining 0.4% and the Shanghai Composite trading mostly flat. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index underperformed, sliding 1.4% amid broader regional weakness.
In contrast, South Korea’s KOSPI continued its strong upward momentum, climbing more than 1% to a record high of 4,622.32 points. The rally was fueled by renewed demand for semiconductor stocks after Samsung Electronics projected record fourth-quarter operating profit, driven by booming demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence applications. Shares of Samsung jumped sharply, while rival SK Hynix also hit record levels on optimism surrounding its high-bandwidth memory business.
Elsewhere in the region, Australia’s stock market was steady as investors digested new trade data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the country’s goods trade surplus narrowed to A$2.94 billion in November, below market expectations, as exports of iron ore and gold declined while imports remained firm. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 traded largely unchanged.
Singapore’s Straits Times Index was flat, while India’s Nifty 50 edged down 0.2%, reflecting cautious sentiment across Asian equity markets.
