Southeast Asian stock markets generally declined today, influenced by cooling expectations for a US Federal Reserve rate cut. Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.4%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.7%.
On February 5, 2026, Asian regional stock markets generally faced pressure today, primarily influenced by cooling expectations for a US Federal Reserve rate cut. Stronger-than-expected US economic data, recently released, led to an adjustment in market expectations for an early Fed rate cut. Singapore's Straits Times Index fell 0.4% to 3,180 points, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped even further by 0.7% to 15,950 points. Japan's Nikkei 225 also recorded a 0.2% decline. Investor concerns about global economic growth prospects and monetary policy paths intensified, leading to a decrease in risk appetite. While the Malaysian stock market was affected, its decline was relatively smaller, showing some resilience. Analysts noted that amid increasing global uncertainty, regional markets would continue to monitor major central bank policy movements and global economic data.
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