Friday 14th March 2025: Asia-Pacific Markets Rebound Amid U.S. Tariff Concerns

Global Markets:

•  Asian Stock Markets : Nikkei up 0.85%, Shanghai Composite up 1.60%, Hang Seng up 2.08% ASX up 0.50%
• Commodities : Gold at $2998.35 (0.70%), Silver at $34.5 (0.68%), Brent Oil at $70.35 (0.65%), WTI Oil at $67.08 (0.64%)
• Rates : US 10-year yield at 4.293, UK 10-year yield at 4.6820, Germany 10-year yield at 2.8535

News & Data:

• (USD) Core PPI m/m -0.1%  to 0,3% expected
• (USD) PPI m/m 0.0%  to 0.3% expected
• (USD) Unemployment Claims  220K  to 226K expected

Markets Update:

Mainland China’s CSI 300 rebounded from Thursday’s losses, climbing 2.4% by late morning in Singapore, led by gains in healthcare, consumer cyclicals, and non-cyclicals. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also surged 2.22%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.39%, reversing earlier losses. Japan’s Nikkei 225 edged up 0.35%, with the broader Topix index gaining 0.40%. Meanwhile, South Korea’s Kospi remained flat, but the smaller Kosdaq advanced 1.82%.

The recovery comes amid escalating trade tensions, with Trump threatening 200% tariffs on European alcoholic products in response to the EU’s 50% tariff on whiskey. “I’m not going to bend at all,” he stated Thursday. Michael Strobaek, global chief investment officer at Lombard Odier, warned that Trump’s policies contribute to market risk. He noted that investors must “filter out the noise” as uncertainties persist. “Market fundamentals remain solid, but volatility calls for diversification,” he advised.

Despite Thursday’s declines, U.S. futures showed signs of recovery on Friday. The S&P 500 had dropped 1.39% to 5,521.52, entering correction territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 1.96%.

With ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties, global markets continue to navigate volatility, assessing potential impacts on trade and growth.

Upcoming Events: 

• 02:00 PM GMT – USD Prelim UoM Consumer Sentiment
• 02:00 PM GMT – USD Prelim UoM Inflation Expectations

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