Asian stocks rise as AI optimism returns

Asian equity markets were mixed on Tuesday as investors weighed renewed concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on the tech sector alongside uncertainty surrounding US trade policy after a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Bangladesh recorded modest economic growth in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, as persistent inflation and weak export performance continued to weigh on the recovery, according to a new review by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka.

Bangladesh has demonstrated stronger performance than several major competitors in the European Union’s garment market, even as overall import growth in the bloc has slowed in recent years.

Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Monday and the dollar weakened after the US Supreme Court struck down a significant portion of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy, easing some concerns that had rattled the global economy last year.

Asian trading partners reacted cautiously on Saturday after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on imports, just hours after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down key elements of his earlier trade measures.

India and Brazil strengthened economic ties on Saturday by signing an agreement to expand cooperation in mining and minerals, as New Delhi seeks to secure raw materials for its growing steel industry and push bilateral trade beyond $20 billion within five years.

Bangladesh has maintained its lead in readymade garment (RMG) export growth to the European Union for five consecutive years, strengthening its position in the bloc’s expanding apparel market.

Japan’s inflation rate eased in January, offering relief to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following her recent landslide election victory.

With growth slowing in traditional markets such as the United States and the European Union, Bangladesh is stepping up efforts to expand economic ties with Africa, where bilateral trade is approaching the $4 billion mark.

Asian stock markets advanced on Thursday, lifted by gains in U.S. technology heavyweights, while geopolitical tensions involving Iran and uncertainty over U.S. interest rates kept investors cautious.

Newly appointed Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Wednesday said Bangladesh must move away from a patronage-driven economic model and build an inclusive system where all citizens can participate and benefit.

Asian equities mostly advanced on Wednesday, while oil prices edged higher after earlier losses sparked by Iran’s upbeat tone following nuclear discussions with US officials.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have reached $34.54 billion, according to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Tuesday.

India’s Adani Group announced on Tuesday that it will invest $100 billion by 2035 to build hyperscale AI-ready data centres, supporting the country’s ambition to become a global artificial intelligence hub.

Remittance inflows to Bangladesh grew by 25.9 percent year-on-year to reach $1,655 million in the first 15 days of February, according to the latest data released by Bangladesh Bank.

Water flow patterns in two major trans-boundary river systems in South Asia are moving in opposite directions, according to a new study by Indian scientists published in Earth’s Future, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Geophysical Union.