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Asian stocks traded mostly flat to lower on Monday due to concerns over U.S. trade tariffs and high interest rates. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX rose slightly but showed little excitement despite stronger-than-expected GDP data, as private spending cooled. Chinese tech stocks, which had surged on AI optimism, paused their rally, though Tencent jumped 6% after testing DeepSeek integration. Concerns over a potential U.S.-China trade war also weighed on sentiment. Australia’s ASX 200 dropped 0.8% from record highs as investors awaited the RBA’s expected rate cut. South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.8% on AI-driven chip stock momentum, while Singapore’s Straits Times index rose 0.4% despite weak export data. Taiwan’s TSMC climbed 1.4% on reports of a possible Intel acquisition. India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a slightly positive open, but fears of higher U.S. tariffs kept investors cautious. Overall, market sentiment remained mixed across the region.

Asian stock markets traded mostly flat to lower on Friday due to concerns over rising U.S. trade tariffs and persistent inflation. While Wall Street closed strong, uncertainty remained as President Trump signed an order planning higher duties on major U.S. trading partners. Inflation data also fueled worries about prolonged high interest rates. However, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index jumped 1.6%, driven by a rally in Chinese tech stocks following the release of DeepSeek AI. Australia’s ASX 200 hit a record high, supported by expectations of an interest rate cut next week and rising commodity prices due to cyclone-related supply disruptions. Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Singapore’s Straits Times index fell slightly, while South Korea’s KOSPI gained 0.4% on strong tech stocks. India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a flat open as investors analyzed Trump and Modi’s trade discussions, with concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on Indian imports.

Asian stocks rose on Thursday, driven by an AI-fueled rally in China and tech dealmaking in Japan, despite concerns over high U.S. inflation. Chinese markets, including the Hang Seng, gained as AI optimism pushed stocks up 5-15% since January. However, broader sentiment remained weak due to trade tensions with the U.S. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.2%, helped by a weaker yen and a bidding war for cybersecurity firm Trend Micro. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.9%, benefiting from China’s AI boom. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 inched up 0.2%, while Singapore’s Straits Times dipped 0.2%. U.S. stock futures rose in Asian trade despite Wall Street losses from stronger-than-expected inflation data, which reduced hopes for rate cuts. Risk appetite improved as Donald Trump talked about a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, leading to a drop in oil prices. India’s Nifty 50 futures pointed to a positive start, though U.S. tariff threats and weak sentiment weighed on the market.

Asian stocks mostly rose on Wednesday, with Hong Kong’s tech sector leading the gains, driven by excitement around artificial intelligence (AI). The Hang Seng index jumped over 2%, fueled by strong performances from Chinese tech companies like Alibaba and BYD, which saw significant stock price increases. Other regional markets were more cautious ahead of a key U.S. inflation report, with investors watching closely for hints about the Federal Reserve’s future interest rate moves. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 rose slightly, while South Korea’s KOSPI and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite also saw modest gains. Meanwhile, China’s main indices barely moved. U.S. inflation data, along with comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicating the economy is stable, kept traders on edge, as many are worried about the potential for higher interest rates and ongoing trade tensions. Indian and Australian markets showed mixed results, with India’s Nifty 50 slightly down and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 up.

Asian stock markets fell on Tuesday as renewed U.S. tariffs under President Trump, particularly on aluminum and steel, increased global trade tensions and led to a risk-off sentiment. Investors shifted towards safe-haven assets like gold and bonds, fearing economic disruptions. China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 fell 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.7% after a recent tech-driven rally. Other markets like the Philippines (-1%) and Indonesia (-0.6%) also declined, while South Korea’s KOSPI bucked the trend, rising 0.5%. U.S. stock futures also traded lower ahead of key inflation data due Wednesday, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. Meanwhile, Australia’s ASX 200 was flat as consumer sentiment remained weak despite expectations of an interest rate cut. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to lower rates in its February 17–18 meeting, given easing inflation, according to Westpac economists.

Asian stock markets had a mixed start this week, with most indices falling after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, raising trade tensions. China plans to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods, adding to market uncertainty. Mining and steel stocks in South Korea, Japan, and Australia declined, while Indonesia’s market dropped 2% and India’s Nifty 50 fell 0.4%. However, Chinese AI stocks, including Baidu and Alibaba, surged, driving Hong Kong’s Hang Seng up 1.5%. China’s Shanghai Composite gained 0.4%, supported by investor optimism in AI and expectations of government stimulus. Inflation data showed weak consumer and industrial demand, increasing speculation that Beijing might introduce economic support, such as interest rate cuts or infrastructure spending. Despite trade concerns, AI-related stocks in China remained strong, helping offset broader market weakness. Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures were trading higher in Asia hours, providing some relief to investors.

Asian currencies remained mostly unchanged on Friday, while the U.S. dollar held steady ahead of key job market data that could influence interest rate decisions. The Chinese yuan stayed weak near 7.3 per dollar after reopening from the Lunar New Year holiday. The Japanese yen had a strong week, dropping 2.3% against the dollar on expectations that the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates further. Investors are closely watching U.S. nonfarm payrolls data, which could impact the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest rates. A strong job report may delay rate cuts, putting pressure on Asian markets. The Indian rupee hovered near record lows amid expectations of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India. The Australian dollar showed slight recovery from a recent five-year low, while the Singapore dollar and South Korean won also made small gains. Markets remain cautious due to ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.

Asian stock markets rose on Thursday, driven by strong gains in tech stocks following Wall Street’s rally, especially after NVIDIA’s positive AI spending outlook. Major Asian tech firms, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and Sunny Optical, saw their shares surge, lifting China’s Shanghai Composite by 0.8% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng by 0.4%. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.3%, with Tokyo Electron and Sony rising, while South Korea’s KOSPI climbed 0.5%, helped by Samsung and SK Hynix. Renesas Electronics soared 12% after strong earnings. However, gains were limited by ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions, with new Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods set to take effect next week. Singapore’s market gained 0.4%, supported by financial and tech stocks, while Australia’s ASX 200 rose 0.7% on mining and tech strength. India’s Nifty 50 remained mostly unchanged, as investors stayed cautious amid global uncertainty.