Optimism over an imminent end to central bank tightening fizzled out on Tuesday while China’s trade balance widened

Investors across the region are banking on long-awaited interest rate cuts being in the pipeline thanks to dovish signals from the US

Investors responded to more positive signals from the US on interest rates with hopes high of cuts in the pipeline

Positive signals from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that borrowing rates may have peaked fuelled a regional rally

Asia’s investors were keeping their powder dry ahead of the Fed’s latest rates announcement while the yen was under pressure again

A surprise dip in China’s factory activity weighed on sentiment across the region while a Bank of Japan yield curve tweak lifted the local mood

The intensifying conflict in and around Gaza continues to unsettle investors while a host of central bank meetings this week is unlikely to bring good news

Traders were buoyed by signs of a turn in the tide on US prices while China’s industrial firms saw their profits extend gains last month

The long shadow of high interest rates and fading hopes of a Fed U-turn also weighed on sentiment while Beijing’s bond boost eased

China has earmarked the funds for infrastructure, with the major stimulus move lifting the mood on the region’s trading floors

Bonds were under pressure and indexes suffered as investors shunned risk with the conflict in Israel and Gaza weighing heavily on sentiment

Investors were in no mood to take on risk as Middle East tensions showed no signs of easing while surging yields added to the pressure