Asian Shares Rise Despite Slow Start for Wall Street in 2025
Asian markets saw gains on Friday, defying Wall Street’s slow start to the year as the dollar strengthened.
Asian Markets, Wall Street, Dollar, Hong Kong, Sydney, Taipei, South Korea, Donald Trump
Stocks in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Taipei were climbing, while South Korea’s Kospi Index jumped nearly two percent. This was despite some political drama in South Korea, where investigators tried to arrest the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law attempt.
Meanwhile, U.S. stocks had a rocky start on Thursday. They opened higher but fell into the red mid-session, ending the day slightly lower. Tesla’s disappointing sales figures contributed to the Wall Street losses, with shares dropping 6.1 percent.
The dollar index reached its highest level since November 2022, indicating that the U.S. economy might be outpacing others. Alvin Tan from RBC Capital Markets noted that the dollar’s strength remains despite the struggles of U.S. equities.
China’s stock market had a rough day, which might reflect the waning sentiment around Chinese assets as Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches. Investors are bracing for potential changes, especially with Trump’s talk of tariffs that could shake up international trade.
In the U.S., jobless claims fell more than expected, showing a strong labor market. This leaves the Federal Reserve with less reason to consider rate cuts. Upcoming economic data on inflation and retail sales will be closely watched.
Overall, it’s an interesting start to the year, with Asian markets showing resilience amid the uncertainty.