Gold Falls Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Weigh on Prices 
Asian Markets Rally as Micron and Qualcomm AI Outlook Lifts Global Tech Stocks 
S&P Affirms Brazil’s BB Credit Rating with Stable Outlook Amid Fiscal Challenges 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Micron Surges, Apple Drops After Price Hikes 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data Eases Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Stocks Sink as Apple Price Hikes Spark AI Valuation Fears, South Korea and Japan Lead Selloff 
U.S. Dollar Reaches One-Year High as Tech Sell-Off and Fed Rate Hike Expectations Support Demand 
Australian Household Spending Rebounds Strongly in May as Travel and Dining Drive Consumer Growth 
Wall Street Ends Lower as AI Stocks Drag Markets, Fed Rate Outlook Shifts 
Asian Currencies Trade Mixed as Yen Hovers Near 40-Year Low, Dollar Holds Firm on Fed Outlook 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
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 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
BOJ Hawk Signals Faster Interest Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Risks 
Most Asian stock markets moved higher on Monday, led by gains in technology shares that followed a strong performance by U.S. peers, although overall advances remained limited due to rising geopolitical and macroeconomic risks. Trading activity across the region was relatively muted, partly because Japanese markets were closed for a public holiday, resulting in lower regional volumes.
Technology stocks emerged as the top performers, supported by sustained optimism around artificial intelligence and ongoing demand for semiconductors. The AI-driven rally had already lifted Wall Street at the end of last week, setting a positive tone for Asian markets. However, sentiment was tempered after S&P 500 futures slipped 0.5% late Monday following reports of a U.S. government probe into the Federal Reserve. Fed Chair Jerome Powell described the investigation as politically motivated, raising concerns about the central bank’s independence and adding pressure to global risk appetite.
Geopolitical tensions also weighed on investor confidence. Ongoing protests in Iran, a reported U.S. incursion in Venezuela, escalating diplomatic friction between China and Japan, and renewed discussions in Washington about acquiring Greenland all contributed to a cautious market environment, despite a generally positive start to the year for Asian equities.
South Korea’s KOSPI led regional gains, rising 1.2% as chipmakers and technology stocks advanced. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.3%, supported by tech shares, while mainland China’s CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indexes also edged higher. In Hong Kong, newly listed artificial intelligence companies saw strong gains, with Knowledge Atlas Tech surging 25% and MiniMax Group jumping more than 20%. Chipmaker Shanghai Iluvatar CoreX SemiCon also posted modest gains.
Elsewhere, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s shares rose 1.4% after reporting strong year-on-year growth in December sales. Positive sentiment was further supported by NVIDIA’s recent chip announcements and upbeat commentary at the CES trade show. Still, Asian markets entered 2026 on a cautious note, as investors remained wary of stretched tech valuations and persistent global geopolitical risks.
