Gold and silver rebound; Asia-Pacific stocks surge; China launches reusable spacecraft; Lattice Semiconductor lists in Hong Kong.

Asia-Pacific Stock Markets Surge to New Heights

Nikkei 225 Hits Record High

Today, the Asia-Pacific stock markets opened with significant gains, with the Nikkei 225 index rising over 5% to surpass 57,000 points, setting a new historical high. The South Korean Composite Index also increased by more than 4%, nearing its own record. Notable stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw initial gains exceeding 6%.

Japanese Election Victory Boosts Market Confidence

The surge follows the victory of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the elections, securing a supermajority in the House of Representatives, the highest level for any party in Japan's post-war elections.

US-India Trade Agreement Reached

Key Terms of the Agreement

The US and India have established a temporary trade framework, which includes reducing tariffs on Indian imports to 18%. India has committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of US goods over the next five years, covering sectors like energy, aviation, and AI chips. In return, the US will eliminate punitive tariffs on India but will impose an 18% "reciprocal" tariff on most Indian exports.

China's Central Bank Increases Gold Reserves

Continuous Growth in Gold Holdings

China's central bank has reported a 15th consecutive month of increasing gold reserves, adding 40,000 ounces in January. As of the end of January, China's gold reserves stood at 74.19 million ounces, up from 74.15 million ounces in December.

China's Successful Launch of Reusable Spacecraft

Implications for Commercial Space Travel

On February 7, China successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft, marking a significant step towards frequent commercial space travel. Analysts predict that with successful technology validation by 2026, the commercial space sector may enter a phase of regular high-frequency launches.

Market Outlook for Precious Metals

Short-Term Consolidation Expected

Morgan Stanley has indicated that gold, silver, and copper will enter a consolidation phase in the coming weeks. However, this is seen as a necessary adjustment within a long-term bullish trend, with copper expected to rebound ahead of gold in the second quarter.

Investment Shifts in US Markets

Small Caps vs. Tech Stocks

Bank of America’s Chief Investment Strategist Michael Hartnett suggests that small-cap stocks may be more favorable than tech giants in the upcoming years, signaling a shift in market dynamics.

Anthropic's Funding Surge

AI Startup Seeks Major Investment

AI startup Anthropic is reportedly entering a new funding round, aiming to raise over $20 billion, with a potential valuation of $350 billion. This follows significant interest from top investors, including Nvidia and Microsoft.

Notable Stock Movements

Changes in Holdings by Jinglin Asset

Jinglin Asset has reduced its holdings in Nvidia by over 60% while increasing its positions in Google and Pinduoduo.

US Stock Market Performance

Major Indices Rise

Last Friday, US stocks rebounded significantly, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossing the 50,000 mark for the first time. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also saw substantial gains.

Tesla's Expansion Plans

Solar Battery Manufacturing

Tesla is reportedly evaluating multiple sites in the US to expand its solar battery manufacturing capabilities, aiming for an annual production capacity of 100 gigawatts within three years.

Regulatory Actions Against Kuaishou

Penalties Imposed

Kuaishou has been penalized for failing to manage inappropriate content on its platform, resulting in a fine of 119.1 million yuan.

Upcoming Earnings Reports

Key Companies to Watch

Investors should pay attention to earnings reports from Cleveland-Cliffs and monday.com, as well as semiconductor companies ON Semiconductor and Amkor Technology.

New Listings in Hong Kong

Upcoming IPOs

Lanqi Technology is set to officially list on the Hong Kong stock exchange, with Aixin Yuanzhi and Lexin Outdoor starting dark trading after market hours.