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Asia Eyes Cautious Open as Tariffs Remain in Focus: Markets Wrap

Jan 26, 2025 - financialpost.com
Asian stocks were poised for a cautious rise as the global market rebound continued, driven by US President Donald Trump's measured approach to trade sanctions. The dollar edged higher, with equity futures in Japan and Hong Kong indicating early gains. The US stock market had its best start to a presidential term since 1985, while a gauge of US-listed Chinese shares saw a significant increase. Despite the positive momentum, concerns about potential tariff threats remain, particularly after Trump imposed sanctions on Colombia over human rights issues. The dollar's rise followed these sanctions, while the Mexican peso slipped.

The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady, marking a pause in its rate-cutting cycle, as the US economy shows strong employment growth and stable inflation. In commodities, oil experienced its first weekly decline of the year amid geopolitical tensions, while gold continued its upward trend. Key events this week include Chinese manufacturing data, US tech earnings, and several central bank rate decisions. Bitcoin remained stable after reaching a record high, and a joint venture for AI infrastructure was announced by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle.

Key takeaways:

  • Asian stocks were set for a cautious rise as the global rebound continued from US President Donald Trump’s go-slow approach to trade sanctions.
  • The US central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady, marking the first pause in the rate-cutting cycle since September.
  • Oil posted its first weekly decline of the year after Trump threatened penalties on Moscow and demanded OPEC+ lower crude costs.
  • Bitcoin edged lower after Trump signed an order to create a working group to advise on crypto policy and create a regulatory framework.
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