Tuesday 4th February 2025: Asia-Pacific Markets Rise as Trump Pauses Tariffs; U.S. Stocks Decline

Global Markets:

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.42%, Shanghai Composite  0.00%, Hang Seng up 1.53% ASX down 0.05%
• Commodities : Gold at $2847.35 (-0.43%), Silver at $32.25 (-0.68%), Brent Oil at $74.59 (-1.19%), WTI Oil at $71.84 (-1.13%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.552, UK 10-year yield at 4.4895, Germany 10-year yield at 2.387

News & Data:

• (USD) ISM Manufacturing PMI  50.9 vs 49.3 expected
• (USD) ISM Manufacturing Prices  54.9 to 52.6 expected

Markets Update:

Asia-Pacific markets rose on Tuesday after Donald Trump temporarily paused tariffs on Mexico for a month. Canada also confirmed that proposed U.S. tariffs on its exports were on hold.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.15%, while the broader Topix index gained 1.06%. South Korea’s Kospi increased by 1.52%, with the small-cap Kosdaq surging 3.09%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index advanced 2%. Meanwhile, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.2%. Indian markets also opened higher, with the benchmark Nifty 50 in positive territory.

Despite the tariff pause, U.S. stocks faced declines overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average initially suffered steep losses but later recovered, closing 122.75 points lower, or 0.28%, at 44,421.91. At its lowest point, the Dow had dropped 665.6 points, or 1.5%.

The S&P 500 fell 0.76% to 5,994.57, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 1.2% to 19,391.96.

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The post Tuesday 4th February 2025: Asia-Pacific Markets Rise as Trump Pauses Tariffs; U.S. Stocks Decline first appeared on IC Markets | Official Blog.