Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Oil Prices Rebound as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Offset Oversupply Concerns 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Japan PMI Data Signals Manufacturing Stabilization as Services Continue to Drive Growth 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Bank of Korea Downplays Liquidity’s Role in Weak Won and Housing Price Surge 
South Korea Extends Bond Market Stabilization Measures Amid Rising Financial Risks 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Valuation Fears and BOJ Uncertainty Weigh on Markets 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
U.S. Stock Futures Mixed as Tech and AI Stocks Face Pressure Ahead of CPI Data 
Asian stocks traded in a tight range on Monday, as investors weighed the potential easing of U.S. trade tariffs under Donald Trump and monitored developments in China’s artificial intelligence sector. Most markets showed little movement, with Japan retreating slightly on weak business activity data.
Japanese stocks slipped as the March Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed contraction for the first time in five months. The Nikkei 225 remained flat, while the TOPIX dropped 0.3%. Manufacturing PMI declined for a ninth consecutive month, and services also contracted, signaling weaker domestic demand and pressure from global trade uncertainties.
Meanwhile, Chinese markets reversed early losses on renewed AI optimism. The Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 gained 0.5%, and the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2%. Reports from Bloomberg revealed that Ant Group, backed by Jack Ma, developed cost-effective AI training methods using Chinese-made chips from Alibaba and Huawei, rivaling NVIDIA’s performance. This development fueled investor confidence in China’s tech self-reliance, lifting Alibaba shares by 0.5%.
Regional markets were largely muted as traders awaited clarity on Trump’s tariff strategy ahead of the April 2 deadline. Weekend reports suggested he may scale back tariffs to only about 15 countries with major trade imbalances, offering some relief to global markets. Wall Street futures rose in Asian trade, but sentiment in Asia remained cautious, given many targeted countries are in the region.
Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng stayed flat, while Australia’s ASX 200 saw little movement despite upbeat PMI data. Singapore’s Straits Times and South Korea’s KOSPI also hovered around flat, with the latter impacted by political uncertainty surrounding President Yun Suk Yeol. Indian markets appeared steady, with Nifty 50 futures pointing to a flat open after a strong prior week.
