Asian Markets Wobble as AI Fears Rattle Stocks, Oil and Gold Rebound 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Stabilizes, Yen Weakens Ahead of Japan Election 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Australia’s Corporate Regulator Urges Pension Funds to Boost Technology Investment as Industry Grows 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Trump Administration Sued Over Suspension of Critical Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
US-India Trade Bombshell: Tariffs Slashed to 18% — Rupee Soars, Sensex Explodes 
Asian stock markets mostly declined on Friday, tracking sustained losses in global technology shares and a weak lead from Wall Street, while Japanese equities managed to stabilize ahead of a closely watched national election. Investor sentiment across the region remained fragile as concerns over artificial intelligence-driven disruptions and heavy corporate spending weighed on risk appetite.
Regional markets followed Wall Street lower after U.S. tech stocks extended sharp declines. S&P 500 Futures slipped 0.2% in late trading, with Amazon.com shares plunging as much as 11% after the e-commerce giant issued an aggressive spending outlook for 2026. The selloff in major U.S. technology stocks spilled over into Asia, pressuring tech-heavy indices across the region.
South Korea’s KOSPI fell 1.7%, reflecting broad losses in semiconductor and technology names, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 1.3% amid continued weakness in Chinese tech stocks. Singapore’s Straits Times Index dropped 0.7%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures edged down 0.1% ahead of a Reserve Bank of India policy meeting, where interest rates are widely expected to remain unchanged.
Mainland Chinese markets showed relative resilience, with the CSI 300 and Shanghai Composite indices trading in a narrow range as investors remained cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty and mixed policy signals from Beijing.
Japanese stocks stood out as a rare bright spot in Asia. The Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices rose about 0.7% each as markets turned their attention to Sunday’s national election. Polls suggest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s party is on track for a decisive victory, potentially securing a super-majority that would allow for sweeping fiscal reforms. Expectations of increased fiscal stimulus and tax cuts to offset rising living costs supported equities, although concerns over Japan’s already elevated government debt have unsettled bond markets.
Australian stocks underperformed sharply, with the ASX 200 sliding as much as 2% after Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock struck a hawkish tone. Following the RBA’s first rate hike in two years, Bullock warned that strong domestic demand and tight capacity could keep inflation elevated, prompting markets to price in at least one more interest rate hike this year.
