Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Asia expanded factory activity moderately in May, but analysts warn that a spike in COVID-19 infections in countries like Taiwan and Vietnam could disrupt semiconductor output and supply chains.
Rising raw material costs also contributed to clouding the outlook.
Toru Nishihama, the chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, noted that a spread of new variants is already negatively impacting supply chains, and if the situation persists, it would hit Asian manufacturers trying to diversify supply chains out of China.
With Asia's recovery being driven more by external demand, exporting problems would not bode well for the region's economies, Nishihama added.
Sharp rises in raw material costs and strains in supply chains crimped some Chinese firms' production, according to a survey that showed factory activity in China slowed slightly in May. The expansion in May was still the fastest for China this year due to solid demand at home and overseas
Taiwan's PMI was at 62.0 in May, dipping from April but well above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction.
Vietnam's PMI in May dropped to 53.1 from 54.7 in April, while Japan's slid to 53 from 53.6 in April.
South Korea's PMI extended growth for the eighth straight month in May at 53.7, though slowing from April.
