Key Takeaways
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to participate in a policy meeting at 2 PM ET today, January 30, 2026, while also issuing a stern warning against closer China business ties for the UK and Canada.
- Indonesia's Chief Economic Minister has reiterated the nation's commitment to transparency, good governance, and market reforms to reassure investors, despite recent market volatility and an MSCI warning.
- Hong Kong's New World Development (17.HK) shares surged amid speculation of a significant investment or take-private deal by Blackstone (BX), even as the broader Hong Kong market ended a seven-day rally.
- Japanese government bond yields saw a slight drop, while the Nikkei 225 index closed marginally lower, reflecting mixed sentiment in the region.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is set to be actively involved in policy discussions today, with the White House confirming his participation in a Friday policy meeting at 2 PM ET. This comes as Trump has also issued a strong warning to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer against forging closer business ties with China, labeling such a move as "dangerous" for both the UK and Canada.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia's Chief Economic Minister has been actively working to bolster investor confidence, assuring stakeholders of the nation's commitment to transparency and good governance. The government aims to reform its market structure to minimize conflicts of interest and has pledged to uphold economic credibility and stability. President Prabowo Subianto is reportedly keeping a close eye on market trends, with the administration targeting an ambitious 8% GDP growth by 2029 and launching the new Danantara sovereign wealth fund. These efforts come after an MSCI warning regarding ownership and trading transparency, which triggered a market rout of over $80 billion, leading Indonesian authorities to propose measures like doubling the free float requirement on listed companies to 15%.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's market saw notable movements, with New World Development (17.HK) shares soaring amidst speculation of a significant investment from Blackstone (BX). Reports suggest Blackstone is in advanced talks for a substantial stake, potentially leading to a take-private deal worth up to $2.5 billion. This surge in New World's shares, which closed up 7.3% on Thursday, occurred as the broader Hong Kong stock market ended a seven-day rally, with investors engaging in profit-taking.
In Japan, the 2-year Japanese government bond yield dropped to 1.225%, a decrease of 2.5 basis points. However, other reports indicate the yield rose to 1.26% on January 29, 2026, and currently stands at 1.248%. The Nikkei 225 index closed slightly lower, down 0.3% in Japan, reflecting a mixed trading session.
Note: Information regarding chipmaking expert Xu Zhenpeng leaving an OpenAI-funded start-up for a Shanghai role was not available in the search results.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.