Market Update
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes fell for the fourth consecutive session as political uncertainty weighed on market sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.2%, and the broader Topix Index decreased 0.9%, and the Japanese yen hovered at 158.02 against the U.S. dollar.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced to dissolve parliament on Friday and called snap election on February 8 to secure voter backing for her broader national budget and security agenda including spending plan, immigration policy, and defense priorities.
Market sentiment remained cautious in Tokyo and Asia as the U.S. president threatened Greenland-linked tariffs to European
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1.2% to 52,926.48, and the Topix Index eased 0.9% to 3,623.51.
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes fell for the fourth consecutive session as political uncertainty weighed on market sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.2%, and the broader Topix Index decreased 0.9%, and the Japanese yen hovered at 158.02 against the U.S. dollar.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced to dissolve parliament on Friday and called snap election on February 8 to secure voter backing for her broader national budget and security agenda including spending plan, immigration policy, and defense priorities.
Market sentiment remained cautious in Tokyo and Asia as the U.S. president threatened
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1.2% to 52,926.48, and the Topix Index eased 0.9% to 3,623.51.
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's benchmark indexes fell for the fourth consecutive session as political uncertainty weighed on market sentiment.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 1.2%, and the broader Topix Index decreased 0.9%, and the Japanese yen hovered at 158.02 against the U.S. dollar.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced to dissolve parliament on Friday and called snap election on February 8 to secure voter backing for her broader national budget and security agenda including spending plan, immigration policy, and defense priorities.
Market sentiment remained cautious in Tokyo and Asia as
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1.2% to 52,926.48, and the Topix Index eased 0.9% to 3,623.51.
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1.2% to 52,926.48, and the Topix I
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1.2% to
Japan TUESDAY
Akira Ito
20 Jan, 2026
Tokyo
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 1
China and Hong Kong Indexes Turned Lower Amid GDP Growth Slowdown Fears
Li Chen
20 Jan, 2026
Hong Kong
China's stocks faced headwinds for the second consecutive session this week, and investors debated the macroeconomic outlook for this year.
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.3%, and the CSI 300 Index fell 0.2% amid receding hopes of additional policy support.
China's economic growth in the fourth quarter decelerated to 4.5%, and lingering property market woes dampened the outlook for the current year.
Moreover, weakening growth in retail sales and elevated jobless rates among young workers kept market sentiment in check.
The People's Bank of China kept its Loan Prime Rates unchanged for the eighth month in a row in January.
The central bank held the one-year rate at 3.0% and the five-year rate at 3.5%, following a 25-basis-point reduction for sector-specific loans effective January 19.
Rising geopolitical tensions contributed to market jitters in Asia, and gold hovered near its record high as the Greenland-sparked tariff war escalated between the U.S., the European Union, and the U.K.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.3% to 26,524.03, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index dropped 0.2% to 4,717.97.
Baidu decreased 2% to HK $144.40, Alibaba Group declined 0.4% to HK $159.90, Tencent Holdings fell 1.5% to HK $601.0, and Meituan eased 0.7% to HK $97.85.
Pop Mart International advanced 8% to HK $196.30, Mixue Group added 3.5% to HK $444.60, and SMIC dropped 3% to HK $74.65.
China and Hong Kong Indexes Turned Lower Amid Weakening Earnings Growth Outlook
Li Chen
20 Jan, 2026
Hong Kong
China's stocks faced headwinds for the second consecutive session this week, and investors debated the macroeconomic outlook for this year.
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.3%, and the CSI 300 Index fell 0.2% amid receding hopes of additional policy support.
China's economic growth in the fourth quarter decelerated to 4.5%, and lingering property market woes dampened the outlook for the current year.
Moreover, weakening growth in retail sales and elevated jobless rates among young workers kept market sentiment in check.
The People's Bank of China kept its Loan Prime Rates unchanged for the eighth month in a row in January.
The central bank held the one-year rate at 3.0% and the five-year rate at 3.5%, following a 25-basis-point reduction for sector-specific loans effective January 19.
Rising geopolitical tensions contributed to market jitters in Asia, and gold hovered near its record high as the Greenland-sparked tariff war escalated between the U.S., the European Union, and the U.K.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index decreased 0.3% to 26,524.03, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index dropped 0.2% to 4,717.97.
Baidu decreased 2% to HK $144.40, Alibaba Group declined 0.4% to HK $159.90, Tencent Holdings fell 1.5% to HK $601.0, and Meituan eased 0.7% to HK $97.85.
Pop Mart International advanced 8% to HK $196.30, Mixue Group added 3.5% to HK $444.60, and SMIC dropped 3% to HK $74.65.
U.S. Stocks Under Pressure and Gold Soared After Trump Threatened Additional Tariffs on European Allies
Barry Adams
19 Jan, 2026
New York City
U.S. indexes traded down in early trading in off-market on Monday amid elevated tariff frictions and rising geopolitical tensions.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.8%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 1% after the U.S. president threatened additional tariffs on goods from eight European allies.
Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on shipments from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Germany.
The tariffs would kick in on February 1 and increase to 25% on June 1 if a deal is not reached to allow the U.S. to "purchase" Greenland.
European automakers and luxury goods stocks dropped between 3% and 5% following the worries of a renewed tariff war.
Broader European market indexes dropped between 0.5% and 1.5% in London, Paris, and Frankfurt.
Last week, Wall Street indexes turned lower amid heightened worries about the Fed's independence, the chaotic Trump administration, and constantly changing trade policy. China and India overcame U.S. tariff pressure amid shifting trade patterns.
The S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite declined around 0.5% after a week of hectic trading, and investors weighed two inflation reports against earnings optimism.
On Monday, gold and silver hit fresh new highs in New York, London, and Shanghai amid rising geopolitical tensions after the U.S. president renewed his threats to "purchase" Greenland and slapped additional tariffs on European allies.
This week about 90 U.S. companies are set to release their quarterly results, including earnings updates from Netflix, GE Aerospace, Schlumberger, Intel, Proctor & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson.
U.S. Stocks Under Pressure and Gold Soared After Trump Threatened Additional Tariffs on European Allies
Barry Adams
19 Jan, 2026
New York City
U.S. indexes traded down in early trading on Monday amid elevated tariff frictions and rising geopolitical tensions.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.8%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 1% after the U.S. president threatened additional tariffs on goods from eight European allies.
Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on shipments from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Germany.
The tariffs would kick in on February 1 and increase to 25% on June 1 if a deal is not reached to allow the U.S. to "purchase" Greenland.
European automakers and luxury goods stocks dropped between 3% and 5% following the worries of a renewed tariff war.
Broader European market indexes dropped between 0.5% and 1.5% in London, Paris, and Frankfurt.
Last week, Wall Street indexes turned lower amid heightened worries about the Fed's independence, the chaotic Trump administration, and constantly changing trade policy. China and India overcame U.S. tariff pressure amid shifting trade patterns.
The S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite declined around 0.5% after a week of hectic trading, and investors weighed two inflation reports against earnings optimism.
On Monday, gold and silver hit fresh new highs in New York, London, and Shanghai amid rising geopolitical tensions after the U.S. president renewed his threats to "purchase" Greenland and slapped additional tariffs on European allies.
This week about 90 U.S. companies are set to release their quarterly results, including earnings updates from Netflix, GE Aerospace, Schlumberger, Intel, Proctor & Gamble, and Johnson & Johnson.