Asian Stocks Reach Fresh Record as Earnings Optimism Drowns Out Trump’s Korea Tariff Threat

Canada and India are set to reboot their relationship with a renewed focus on energy, pledging to expand two-way trade in oil and gas after a period of diplomatic tension. The move signals a major strategic reset for both nations.

A New Framework for Energy Cooperation

Under the revived partnership, Ottawa will commit to increasing shipments of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to India. In return, New Delhi will boost its exports of refined petroleum products to Canada.

The agreement is expected to be formalized following a meeting between Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at India Energy Week in Goa on Tuesday.

This meeting serves to relaunch the "ministerial energy dialogue," a key channel for cooperation that had become inactive during a dispute over the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist.

Broader Goals for a Strategic Partnership

The renewed dialogue extends beyond traditional fossil fuels. According to a joint statement, Hodgson and Puri will also commit to:

• Facilitating greater reciprocal investment in their respective energy sectors.

• Exploring collaboration on hydrogen, biofuels, and battery storage.

• Cooperating on critical minerals and modernizing electricity systems.

• Investigating the use of artificial intelligence in the energy industry.

This initiative is a key part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's effort to diversify Canada's export markets, particularly as trade tensions with the United States escalate. It reflects a shift toward a more pragmatic, economy-focused diplomacy with major Asian partners.

The Economic Stakes and Geopolitical Context

The relaunch signals that both governments recognize significant untapped potential in their energy relationship. Prime Minister Carney is expected to visit India in the coming weeks to solidify this reset, building on talks he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi restarted in November for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

In 2024, two-way goods trade between the two countries reached C$13.3 billion ($9.7 billion), and Ottawa sees substantial room for growth. Energy is a primary focus, with India currently accounting for just 1% of Canada's critical minerals exports.

New infrastructure, including the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, creates a more direct path for Canadian crude to reach India, though most shipments still transit through the U.S. Gulf Coast. Canada's west coast LPG terminals also offer relatively short shipping routes to the Indian market, and the country began exporting LNG to Asia in June 2025.

Carney's push to strengthen ties with India follows a recent trip to Beijing, where an agreement to reduce tariff barriers prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to threaten 100% tariffs on Canadian goods. Carney has maintained that Canada is not pursuing a free trade agreement with China.

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Ten European nations have agreed to jointly develop a massive offshore wind network, a landmark move designed to secure the region's energy supply, reduce dependence on U.S. natural gas, and manage the rising cost of renewables.

At the North Sea Summit, ministers from Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway signed a pact to build 100 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity. This ambitious project aims to power over 50 million households and builds on a 2023 commitment to install 300 GW of offshore wind by 2050—a strategy initially driven by the energy crisis following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

A Strategic Pivot from US Gas Imports

The agreement comes at a critical juncture in Europe's relationship with the United States. Following the disruption of Russian gas flows, Europe has become heavily reliant on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). In 2025, U.S. gas made up 57% of all LNG imports into the EU and Britain, accounting for roughly a quarter of the region's total gas supply.

Concerns over this dependency have been amplified by President Donald Trump's "energy dominance" agenda and transactional approach to diplomacy, highlighted by a recent dispute over Greenland. This new wind power initiative is a clear effort to build a more independent and homegrown energy system.

Navigating a Challenging Climate for Renewables

While wind power is central to Northern Europe's energy strategy—generating 19% of EU electricity in 2025—the industry faces significant headwinds. The region currently operates just 37 GW of offshore wind capacity, making the planned 100 GW expansion a profound transformation of its power market.

Figure 1: Europe's electricity generation mix has transformed since 2000, with renewable sources like wind and solar steadily displacing fossil fuels.

Globally, investor confidence in clean energy has cooled due to rising capital costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and concerns over China's dominance in renewables manufacturing. In the U.S., the Trump administration's open hostility toward green energy, especially wind power, has led to the cancellation of multiple projects and further weakened market sentiment.

At the same time, Europe's cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by high energy prices, has made climate policies a political battleground, creating public resistance to net-zero initiatives.

Figure 2: Wind and solar generation in Europe have grown significantly since 2000, with wind power consistently leading the expansion of renewable energy capacity.

A Blueprint for Cost Reduction and Efficiency

The multi-nation offshore wind pact is designed to address cost concerns as much as energy security. It includes several features aimed at lowering development expenses and, eventually, consumer electricity bills.

Leveraging Economies of Scale

The sheer scale of the 100 GW commitment is its most powerful feature. By providing the offshore wind supply chain with greater demand certainty, the plan is expected to spur investment in European manufacturing. Industry group WindEurope projects the initiative will:

• Cut costs by 30% between 2025 and 2040.

• Create 91,000 jobs.

• Generate 1 trillion euros ($1.19 trillion) in economic activity.

Building an Integrated Power Network

A core element of the agreement is a plan to connect wind farms to multiple countries through a network of bidirectional cables and interconnectors. This integrated grid will allow electricity to flow where it is most needed, improving efficiency and giving operators the flexibility to respond to shifting supply and demand across different markets.

This cross-border "arbitrage" should also minimize "negative pricing" events, where excess wind generation forces operators to shut down turbines and receive compensation. "When it is windy in Germany, it may not be windy in the UK, so if Germany can't use all of the power, the UK can take some instead of wasting it," explained Jordan May, a senior analyst at consultancy TGS 4C.

Furthermore, because the network will span multiple time zones, peak demand hours will vary by country. This diversity should make it easier to match supply with demand, reducing the need for gas-fired backup power.

An Unexpected Boost from US Policy

Europe may also benefit indirectly from President Trump's stance on wind energy. The U.S. offshore wind sector has seen a sharp downturn, with the International Energy Agency slashing its 2030 forecast for the country by over 50%. Reduced American demand for vessels, components, and services could lead to lower prices for European operators.

The Real Cost of Europe's Energy Future

Despite the plan's potential, the path forward is complex. European governments must develop intricate new regulations to align different national subsidy programs and power market rules—a process that could take years and face political opposition.

The cost of transitioning to renewables remains a contentious issue in Europe. However, forecasting these costs is difficult, and the same uncertainty applies to fossil fuels, which are subject to volatile global prices. While offshore wind requires significant upfront investment, its long-term operating costs are generally lower. In contrast, gas-fired plants are cheaper to build but remain exposed to price shocks.

Critically, debates over the cost of renewables often overlook the cost of inaction. Europe's power demand is projected to nearly double by 2050, requiring massive investment to upgrade and expand aging grids regardless of the energy source. Delaying this work will only make it more expensive.

Ultimately, this joint offshore wind plan provides a clear path toward greater energy independence and industrial strength. Its success, however, will be measured by its ability to deliver lower, more stable electricity prices for European consumers.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz came to power with a promise to revive Europe's largest economy through an unprecedented fiscal stimulus after two years of contraction. While Germany's growth prospects are central to the eurozone's recovery, economists and business leaders warn that the deep structural reforms needed for sustainable growth have yet to materialize.

The country's sluggish federal decision-making process, combined with a coalition partner hesitant about some of Merz’s more aggressive plans, threatens to stall the reform agenda. Furthermore, idle industrial capacity will take time to bring back online, potentially slowing the recovery.

After expanding by a mere 0.2% in 2025, the German economy is projected to see healthier growth this year as government spending accelerates.

Cautious Optimism for Germany's 2026 Growth

Forecasts for 2026 point toward a moderate upswing. The International Monetary Fund anticipates 1.1% growth, while the German government officially expects a 1.3% expansion, though a source told Reuters this figure will likely be revised down to 1.0%.

"A moderate upswing is a good sign, but the recovery remains fragile," noted Ulrich Reuter, president of Germany's savings banks association DSGV, who also forecasts 1.0% growth.

Investor morale is one bright spot, hitting its highest level since August 2021 in January, according to the ZEW economic research institute.

Figure 1: German investor sentiment (orange line) surged to its highest since August 2021, though the assessment of the current economic situation (red line) remains deeply negative.

"It is reasonable to look ahead to 2026 with cautious optimism: If the fiscal measures that have already been decided take full effect, a noticeable pickup is possible," said Geraldine Dany-Knedlik, an economist at the German Institute for Economic Research DIW Berlin.

Slow Decision-Making Hampers Key Investments

Despite the optimism, progress has been slow. A landmark 500 billion euro ($593 billion) special fund for infrastructure was approved by parliament last March, yet only 24 billion euros had been invested by the end of the year. This reflects the slow pace of decision-making inherent in Germany's federal system.

Public impatience has grown, especially now that Merz has been in office for over eight months. The initial enthusiasm surrounding the government's fiscal policy shift has also waned amid concerns that parts of the infrastructure fund are being used for daily spending rather than growth-enhancing projects.

Deep-Rooted Structural Issues and Political Hurdles

Even if a recovery is underway, Germany's problems are structural, self-inflicted, and cannot be fixed quickly, according to Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING.

"This time around, the economy almost needs a complete makeover," Brzeski said, pointing to the need to cut red tape, roll out e-government, and address the fiscal burden of an aging population.

However, Merz's pro-business agenda has met resistance from his centre-left Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners. The SPD is wary of reforms they believe could weaken workers' rights, leading to disputes over pension changes and tax policy that have hindered progress.

The most difficult structural challenges—including pensions, health insurance financing, and fiscal rule reform—have been delegated to commissions that are not due to report until the end of 2026. This means many of the biggest decisions are still pending.

Industrial Sector Shows Signs of Life, But Capacity Lags

Fiscal stimulus is providing some support to the industrial sector, which has shown tentative signs of stabilization. Industrial production rose by 0.8% in November, marking its third consecutive monthly increase.

Figure 2: German industrial production has shown a long-term decline but stabilized in late 2025, supporting forecasts of a modest recovery.

Industrial orders climbed 5.6% month-on-month in November, and private sector business activity grew at its fastest rate in three months in January, according to the flash composite PMI.

"This makes us more confident that, after six years of stagnation, Germany will grow again in 2026. However, we would not get carried away," commented Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics.

Despite these positive signals, the BDI industry association projects that industry will likely expand more slowly than the overall economy this year. BDI Managing Director Tanja Goenner highlighted that industrial capacity utilization was at 78% in October, well below the long-term average of 83.3%, marking the longest period of underutilization.

"This means machines are standing still, production potential remains unused, investments are being postponed and employment is being reduced," she explained.

Fragile Demand and Corporate Distress Cloud Outlook

On the domestic front, household demand remains weak. Consumer sentiment fell in January as the tendency to save reached its highest point since the 2008 financial crisis. Spending is expected to stay muted this year as unemployment rises, a lagging effect from the economic stagnation of previous years.

Meanwhile, corporate distress is on the rise. The number of bankruptcies and insolvency-related business closures has reached an 11-year high.

To reverse this trend, DIHK chief analyst Volker Treier insists that the structural problems facing companies must be addressed urgently. "It is up to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government to implement these reforms this year and turn a long-awaited rebound into a sustainable recovery," he said.

FX traders are preparing for a very lively day on Wednesday as focus should move away from geopolitical concerns and onto fundamentals for a few sessions. There is some key data out earlier in the day, but the real attention will be on the North American trading session where we hear interest rate updates from both the Bank of Canada and the Federal Reserve Bank, and as always, the Fed should dominate market sentiment across global markets.

After the drama of last month's meeting where the Fed closed out 2025 with another 25-basis point cut, the market is expecting this meeting conclusion to be slightly quieter with chances now up at 97% that they will keep rates on hold. Moves should come from forward guidance from the statement and press conference as projections are not declared at this meeting. Data has remained fairly stable in the US with growth remaining strong, jobs numbers still weak – although the unemployment rate dipped on the last reading – and inflation still sticky, the Core PCE still up at 2.8% well off the Fed's desired 2%.

Some currencies are sitting at very sensitive levels going into the meeting and anything slightly off expectations could see some big moves in the market. The dollar has taken a big hit over the last few sessions and Cable looks particularly vulnerable to a topside move if we hear anything more dovish than expected from the FOMC, while anything on the hawkish side should see it drop hard back into recent ranges. Key long-term trendline resistance on the Daily chart is now relatively close at 1.3730 and a break there opens the way for a move up to the 2025 high at 1.3788, while a move south could see the 200-day moving average at 1.3413 challenged.

Resistance 2: 1.3788 – 2025 High

Resistance 1: 1.3733 – Trendline Resistance

Support 1: 1.3413 – 200 – Day Moving Average

Support 2: 1.3335 – 19 Jan Low

Source: IC Markets

India has agreed to give European automakers a quota more than six times larger than any it has offered in recent times, slashing tariffs under a trade pact with the European Union and granting far greater access to its tightly protected car market.

The agreement will gradually allow up to 250,000 European-made vehicles to enter India at preferential duty rates, according to people familiar with the negotiations — far above the 37,000-unit quota extended to the UK under a separate deal.

Of this, about 160,000 units with internal combustion-engine cars will see import duties fall to 10% within five years while for 90,000 electric vehicles, this levy will kick in by the 10th year to protect the nascent Indian electric vehicle market, the people said. The initial in-quota tariffs will start at about 30% for most segments.

Beyond this quota, the trade pact has negotiated a rate cut to 35% over 10 years for fossil-fuel powered cars, they added. This is a substantial markdown since India currently charges as much as 110% on imported cars.

The larger allocation reflects the bloc's much bigger auto market and will benefit manufacturers including Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Stellantis NV and Renault SA.

The pact includes a review clause allowing quotas to be reassessed periodically to reflect India's booming auto market and any concessions offered to future trade partners, including the US, one of the people said. Reviews will be linked to steel — a key priority for India — giving both sides leverage in future negotiations, the person said.

The unprecedented quota underscores how both sides are using the pact to reset their trade relationship. For Europe, it deepens access to the fast-growing market long shielded by steep tariffs, while India secures reciprocal access for its own automakers as it pushes to expand exports and boost manufacturing. The auto sector concessions are part of a larger trade pact that also slashes duties on wine, spirits and beer, while preserving protections for politically sensitive farm sectors on both sides.

The EU will offer Indian automakers such as Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd. and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. import concessions covering up to 625,000 vehicles, a number calibrated to reflect the relative size of the two markets, one of the people said.

Tariffs on India-made electric vehicles imported into the bloc within quotas will be eliminated over 10 years, the person said. Smaller, lower-cost EVs will be phased in more slowly over 14 years, starting at 27,500 units in year five and rising to 125,000 units — about 2% of EU's market based on current forecasts, according to one of the people.

To be sure, while the agreement gives European carmakers a clearer pathway to deepen their presence in India — and potentially operate with lower levels of local manufacturing investment than they have long sought to avoid — the timing of the tariff cuts will be critical in determining how valuable the concessions prove in practice.

With the steepest reductions phased in over several years, companies' ability to capitalize on the deal will hinge on how quickly lower duties take effect and whether demand in India's premium and electric segments accelerates as expected.

India also agreed to reduce out-of-quota tariffs on European combustion-engine cars to between 30% and 35% over a decade, the people said.

In addition to finished vehicles, European carmakers will be allowed to export up to 75,000 cars a year, priced above €15,000 (about $17,800), for assembly in India from completely-knocked-down kits. Tariffs on those imports will be cut to 8.25% from 16.5%, according to a person familiar with the details.

Duties on car parts will be reduced to zero, the people said, supporting deeper supply-chain integration between Europe and India. Europe is a major export market for Indian auto component suppliers, while higher pricing for Europe-made parts is expected to limit the impact on India's domestic manufacturing industry.

The agreement stops short of sweeping market opening, the person said, adding that it underscored the constraints the bloc faced in talks with India, especially after New Delhi tied progress to its demands on steel. Even with the deal in place, new EU regulations on that sector are likely to curb India's effective access to the market, the person said.

Source: Bloomberg