*New Zealand lowers rates* Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell around 0.3% but South Korea’s Kospi Index climbed over 1.7%. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut rates by 50 basis points to 3.75%. ➡️ cnb.cx/4b2ZWst *Deal-making activity in China ramps up* Merger and acquisition deals in China are starting to rebound as Beijing’s stimulus measures start to bear fruit, while pressure from Donald Trump’s tariffs is also driving industry consolidation. ➡️  cnb.cx/41263bX *HSBC announces share buyback* HSBC reported Wednesday full-year earnings that missed analyst estimates compiled by LSEG. The bank also announced a share buyback of up to $2 billion. ➡️ cnb.cx/3X9BUq5 *Divided over Europe’s outperformance of U.S.* The Stoxx 600 index rose 6.3% in January, higher than the 2.7% gain of the S&P 500. While some analysts think the trend can last, others warn that it may not because of one fundamental driver of markets. ➡️ cnb.cx/41qn6EX Get the latest updates: https://bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp