Asian stocks plunged Monday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s new trade tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico fueled global trade war concerns, triggering a broad sell-off.
Key Market Declines
- Japan’s Nikkei 225: ↓3%, hitting a two-week low
- South Korea’s KOSPI: ↓3%, lowest since early January
- TOPIX: ↓2.3%
- Australia’s ASX 200: ↓1.9% after last week's record high
- Singapore’s Straits Times Index: ↓0.4%
- Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index: ↓1.7%
- Thailand’s SET Index: ↓1.8%
- Nifty 50 Futures: Indicating a sharp decline
Trade War Fears & Inflation Risks
- Trump’s tariffs include 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% on Chinese goods.
- China, Canada, and Mexico retaliated, escalating trade tensions.
- Higher import costs could fuel inflationary pressure, raising concerns over global economic stability.
Looking Ahead
- Chinese markets remain closed for the Lunar New Year, resuming Tuesday.
- Investors await U.S. Federal Reserve signals on potential monetary policy responses to rising inflation.
For insights on economic trends, traders can monitor the Economic Indicators API, which tracks inflation, trade balances, and GDP growth.
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