IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
China Home Prices Rise in January as Government Signals Stronger Support for Property Market 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Gold, Silver, and Platinum Rally as Precious Metals Recover from Sharp Selloff 
Gold Prices Stabilize in Asian Trade After Sharp Weekly Losses Amid Fed Uncertainty 
South Korea Factory Activity Hits 18-Month High as Export Demand Surges 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
India Budget 2026: Modi Government Eyes Reforms Amid Global Uncertainty and Fiscal Pressures 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
Trump Announces U.S.–India Trade Deal Cutting Tariffs, Boosting Markets and Energy Ties 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
China Manufacturing PMI Slips Into Contraction in January as Weak Demand Pressures Economy 
Asian markets mostly advanced on Wednesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 surging 2.7% to its highest level since July 2024 after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a major trade agreement with Japan. The deal, seen as a breakthrough ahead of an August 1 tariff deadline, includes a 15% U.S. tariff on Japanese exports—lower than the initially proposed 25%—and opens Japanese markets to more U.S. agricultural and automotive products. Trump also stated that Japan would invest $550 billion in the U.S.
Japanese automakers led the rally, with Toyota and Honda jumping up to 10%. The trade agreement provided a much-needed boost to sentiment among Japanese exporters, even as the 15% tariff still presents moderate challenges. Investors largely shrugged off domestic political uncertainty following a recent electoral setback for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling party.
Despite Japan’s strong performance, broader gains in Asian equities were tempered by weakness in technology shares, especially chipmakers. This followed soft guidance from Texas Instruments and reports of challenges in the $500 billion AI venture between Japan’s SoftBank and OpenAI. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.2%, underperforming regional peers, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index traded flat.
Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 gained 0.6%, rebounding from recent losses, and both China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 rose 0.2%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng also added 0.6%. India’s Gift Nifty 50 Futures inched up 0.1%, reflecting cautious optimism as traders awaited progress on a potential U.S.-India trade deal.
Overall, optimism around the U.S.-Japan agreement fueled hopes of similar deals with other Asian economies, but tech sector weakness remains a drag on broader regional sentiment.
