Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Gold and Silver Prices Rebound After Volatile Week Triggered by Fed Nomination 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
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 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
The S&P 500 closed higher Tuesday, driven by a surge in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares and renewed optimism over U.S.-China trade talks. Investors are betting that positive outcomes from negotiations will ease tensions and potentially roll back sweeping tariffs imposed earlier this year.
Tesla jumped 5.6%, leading gains among major tech stocks, while Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) rose 1.4% after reports that OpenAI plans to use Google Cloud to expand its computing capacity. Meanwhile, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) dipped 0.4%.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said talks with China were progressing and could wrap up by Wednesday. Hopes that “Liberation Day” tariff levels will be avoided have helped the S&P 500 rebound from its April slump, now trading just below February’s record highs. Horizon Investments’ CIO Scott Ladner noted, “You can’t get to these market valuations with those tariffs becoming reality.”
The S&P 500 rose 0.55% to 6,038.81, the Nasdaq climbed 0.63% to 19,714.99, and the Dow Jones gained 0.25% to 42,866.87. Ten of 11 S&P 500 sectors advanced, led by energy (+1.77%) and consumer discretionary (+1.19%). Trading volume reached 18.5 billion shares, above the recent average.
Investors now await Wednesday’s U.S. consumer price index for clues on the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate move. Meanwhile, the World Bank cut its 2025 global growth forecast to 2.3%, citing trade tensions and uncertainty.
In corporate news, Insmed (NASDAQ:INSM) soared nearly 29% on positive clinical trial results. J.M. Smucker tumbled 15.6% after issuing weak earnings guidance. Snap (NYSE:SNAP) slipped 0.1% after unveiling plans for consumer smart glasses to rival Meta (NASDAQ:META).
Overall, advancing stocks outpaced decliners 2-to-1 on the S&P 500, with the index posting 12 new highs and two new lows.
