Asian Currencies Mixed as Dollar Holds Near Two-Month High 
Japan Private-Sector Growth Slows as Domestic Demand Weakens 
South Korea, US Discuss Warship Building Cooperation 
Soybean Futures Slip as Traders Await Trump-Xi Trade Signals 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
U.S. Treasury Yields Surge as 30-Year Hits 22-Year High 
Gold Holds Near $4,275 as Rising Treasury Yields Fuel Fed Rate Hike Bets 
RBI Uses $10 Billion Currency Swaps to Drain Excess Rupee Liquidity 
Oil Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Diplomacy Hopes Fade 
Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks 
Fed Unveils Stablecoin Rules Under GENIUS Act 
Oil Prices Ease as Iran Tensions Clash With Diplomacy Hopes 
US, China Extend Trade Truce to Jan. 10 Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
Asian Stocks Fall as Surging Bond Yields Rattle Markets 
Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Asian stock markets plunged on Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered a sharp rise in oil prices and fueled global risk aversion. Investor sentiment weakened after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran over the weekend, intensifying geopolitical uncertainty and prompting a shift toward safe-haven assets.
Major Asian indices posted broad losses. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 2.4%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.6%, weighed down by heavy selling in technology shares. Japan’s TOPIX also declined 1.6%. In mainland China, the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 slipped 0.6% and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.5%. Australia’s ASX 200 edged down 0.5%, Singapore’s Straits Times Index tumbled 1.8%, and India’s Nifty 50 futures fell 0.8%. U.S. stock futures also remained under pressure, reflecting continued global market volatility.
The weekend airstrikes, which reportedly killed hundreds including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, were followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran targeting U.S. bases and regional sites. With both sides signaling further action, fears of prolonged conflict have heightened concerns about potential oil supply disruptions. Rising crude oil prices are adding to inflation risks across Asia, where many economies depend heavily on energy imports.
Technology stocks across the region extended losses amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence and increased competition within the software sector. Investors remain cautious about how AI-driven disruption could reshape earnings growth in 2026 and beyond.
Attention in China is turning to the upcoming “two sessions” political meetings, scheduled from March 4 to March 11, where policymakers are expected to outline priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan and introduce potential economic stimulus measures.
Meanwhile, stronger-than-expected U.S. producer inflation data has reinforced concerns about persistent inflation, potentially keeping U.S. interest rates elevated for longer. Markets are also reassessing monetary policy in Asia, with expectations shifting around potential moves by the Bank of Japan and the Reserve Bank of Australia amid evolving inflation trends.
