Newly installed Vietnamese President To Lam, who also serves as leader of the Communist Party, is set to visit China on the invitation of Xi Jinping. This marks Lam's first state visit since assuming both of Hanoi's most powerful posts just a week prior, highlighting a rare meeting between two of the world's last communist party bosses. The visit comes as Vietnam-China relations have been warming, particularly in business cooperation, despite ongoing disputes over the South China Sea [1].
India is experiencing significant economic impacts from the Iran war, affecting its stock market, currency, and factory operations. The Reserve Bank of India decided to hold its key policy rate steady on Wednesday, but the conflict's effect on energy prices and other inputs is raising concerns about a potential uptick in India's low inflation rate. March consumer inflation data and trade balance figures are expected to be released this week. In February, India's inflation was reported at 3.2%, within the central bank's tolerance band of 2% to 6%. The Middle East conflict is anticipated to have disrupted shipments and production, especially goods destined for the region [1].
China is opening the Canton Fair, its largest trade show, in Guangzhou, featuring a wide range of products from vehicles and electronics to furniture and toys. The expo, running until early May, is taking place amid global supply chain disruptions caused by the Iran war [1].
On Thursday, TSMC will announce its first-quarter earnings. The company, recognized as the world's largest contract chipmaker, benefited from the artificial intelligence boom with record annual profit in 2025. Analysts and investors are expected to focus on updates regarding capital expenditure plans, AI demand outlook, and the impact of the Middle East conflict on the tech industry. Wipro is also scheduled to report earnings this week [1].
CONCLUSION
Vietnam's diplomatic engagement with China signals strengthening ties despite regional tensions, while India faces mounting economic challenges from the Iran war, particularly in inflation and trade. The upcoming earnings reports from TSMC and Wipro, along with key economic data releases, are likely to influence market sentiment and investor decisions. Overall, the regional events and data releases point to moderate market impact, with heightened attention on supply chain disruptions and geopolitical risks.