Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
US-India Trade Bombshell: Tariffs Slashed to 18% — Rupee Soars, Sensex Explodes 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
U.S. stocks closed higher Thursday, driven by Nvidia’s strong performance, even as trade policy concerns resurfaced. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, the Dow rose 0.3%, and the Nasdaq added 0.4%. All major indexes are on track for weekly and monthly gains, with the S&P 500 up 5.7% this month and the Nasdaq leading with a 9.5% jump.
Investor sentiment was rattled by a legal tug-of-war over former President Donald Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs. A federal appeals court reinstated the tariffs Thursday, days after the Court of International Trade blocked them, ruling Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Both sides are expected to present further arguments in early June.
Despite the uncertainty, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) rallied on strong first-quarter earnings, fueled by high demand for AI chips and data center servers. The company also noted an $8 billion sales impact from U.S. export restrictions to China but remained optimistic. Analysts, including Wedbush, called the forecast “impressive,” reinforcing Nvidia’s role as a key AI growth indicator.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) also gained after CEO Elon Musk announced his departure from the Trump administration to focus fully on Tesla. Meanwhile, Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) rose on a narrower-than-expected loss and reaffirmed annual targets, while Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) fell after cutting its 2026 outlook due to tariff risks.
Economic data painted a weaker picture, with Q1 GDP contracting 0.2%, revised slightly from the initial 0.3% decline. Unemployment claims rose to 240,000 last week, signaling softening labor conditions. Markets now turn to upcoming comments from several Federal Reserve officials for insight into future monetary policy.
