U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Dollar Holds Firm as Markets Weigh Warsh-Led Fed and Yen Weakness Ahead of Japan Election 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Eases Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Boost American Investment After Maduro Ouster 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
Wall Street Slides as Warsh Fed Nomination, Hot Inflation, and Precious Metals Rout Shake Markets 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
Asian Currencies Hold Firm as Dollar Rebounds on Fed Chair Nomination Hopes 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
Canada’s Trade Deficit Jumps in November as Exports Slide and Firms Diversify Away From U.S. 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
South Korea Exports Surge in January on AI Chip Demand, Marking Fastest Growth in 4.5 Years 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Asian markets tumbled on Wednesday, extending Wall Street’s overnight losses as investors grew increasingly cautious about overstretched stock valuations. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.8%, led by a steep 4.1% decline in South Korean equities. U.S. e-mini futures also slipped 0.4% following a 1.2% fall in the S&P 500.
Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group in Melbourne, described the market mood as “a sea of red across broad markets,” noting the absence of strong buying catalysts until Nvidia’s earnings report on November 19.
The recent retreat from record highs reflects growing fears that global equity markets may have risen too far, too fast. Caution has intensified after top Wall Street executives, including the CEOs of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, questioned whether the rally’s lofty valuations are sustainable. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon previously warned of the potential for a significant market correction within the next two years.
Investor enthusiasm around generative AI has fueled massive gains this year, drawing comparisons to the late-1990s dot-com bubble. Japan’s Nikkei index plunged 2.5%, with tech giant SoftBank Group tumbling 10% amid the broader selloff.
In currency markets, the U.S. dollar fell 0.2% against the yen to 153.41 following the release of minutes from the Bank of Japan’s September policy meeting. The dollar index briefly touched a five-month high of 100.25. Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields edged lower to 4.0697%, while the euro traded steady at $1.1484 after hitting a three-month low.
In commodities, gold inched up 0.1% to $3,936.48 per ounce after three sessions of losses, and Brent crude remained stable at $64.44 per barrel. Bitcoin briefly dipped below $100,000 before rebounding to $100,499.70.
