China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
China Factory PMI Seen Returning to Growth in June as AI Export Demand Supports Economy 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Bank Regulation Rollbacks in the U.S. and UK Could Increase Financial Risks, Study Warns 
Gold Prices Rise Above $4,000 as Inflation Data and Weaker Dollar Boost Demand 
Gold Prices Fall Below $4,000 as Strong Dollar, Fed Rate Hike Bets Weigh on Bullion 
Asian Stocks Slip as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Lift Oil, Dollar Strength Persists 
US Stock Futures Rise as US-Iran Ceasefire Hopes Boost Market Sentiment 
SpaceX Eyes Starlink Mobile Phone Service to Challenge Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile 
Oil Prices Drop as Middle East Supply Recovery Eases Market Concerns 
Japan Targets 1%+ Real Economic Growth With ¥370 Trillion Investment Plan 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
Canada Grants C$7 Million to Greenland Molybdenum Mine to Strengthen Critical Minerals Supply 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
Most Asian stocks declined Wednesday as risk appetite waned following U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats. Weak U.S. economic data also weighed on sentiment, while Hong Kong markets stood out with strong gains in Chinese tech stocks.
Wall Street’s losses extended for a fourth session as weak consumer confidence data heightened concerns over a slowing U.S. economy. Trump’s tariff threats on copper, along with his plans for 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico by early March, added to market jitters.
Despite this, U.S. stock futures edged higher in Asian trade, hinting at potential bargain buying ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release later in the day.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index surged over 2%, nearing a two-year high, as investors remained bullish on China’s artificial intelligence sector. Major tech players like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu led the rally, fueled by optimism over AI-driven growth. Gains extended into broader Chinese markets, with the Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 seeing mild increases.
However, other Asian tech stocks struggled as investors turned cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 0.5%, while South Korea’s KOSPI dipped 0.1%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn), key Nvidia suppliers, also saw modest declines.
Broader Asian markets remained weak due to concerns over U.S. economic data and trade risks. Australia’s ASX 200 fell 0.3% after inflation data suggested limited scope for rate cuts. Japan’s TOPIX dropped 1.1%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index remained flat.
Overall, uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies and economic growth continued to pressure global markets, with investors closely watching Nvidia’s earnings for further direction.
