Asian markets swing as tariff uncertainty looms large
A currency trader passes by a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center left, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Hong Kong, China — Asian markets were mixed Tuesday following the previous day’s global rally as traders keep a nervous eye on Donald Trump’s next moves after he signed off on 25 percent tariffs for steel and aluminum imports, having warned of more measures to come.
The president has lived up to his campaign pledges to resume his hardball trade diplomacy to extract concessions on a range of issues, including commerce, immigration and drug trafficking.
However, while the moves have jolted sentiment, equities have held up since Trump took office — London and Frankfurt even hit record highs Monday — with analysts saying measures have so far been less severe than feared.
READ: Trump signs executive orders on steel, aluminum tariffs
Still, caution looms over trading floors as dealers brace for the next announcement out of the White House, with Maurice Obstfeld, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, saying “the degree of uncertainty about trade policy has basically exploded”.
And Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets, said: “These expanding trade actions beyond previous threats to Canada, Mexico and China are leading to potential new import restrictions and retaliation, signalling more bouts of volatility for investors.
“Tariffs are being used not just to tax imports but also as tools for national security, economic leverage, and revenue generation, indicating a shift towards long-term economic policy rather than short-term trade disputes.”
All three main indexes started the week on the front foot thanks to a rally in tech firms.
But Asia struggled to maintain its momentum from Monday, with Hong Kong flitting between gains and losses, while Shanghai, Singapore and Manila fell.
Seoul, Sydney, Wellington and Taipei rose.
The uncertainty fuelled by Trump’s moves has pushed safe haven gold ever-higher. On Monday, it broke above $2,900 for the first time. It extended gains Tuesday to hit a new peak above $2,938.
Fears that Trump’s tariffs, along with tax cuts and deregulation, will reignite inflation and force the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates elevated have sent the dollar up against most of its peers.
Readings on consumer and producer price indexes this week will provide a fresh snapshot of inflation, while Fed boss Jerome Powell is also due to give depositions to US lawmakers.
Both will be pored over for an idea about the bank’s plans for rates, with forecasts for two cuts at most this year.
Key figures around 0220 GMT
Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: FLAT to 21,513.37
Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 0.3 percent to 3,313.01
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday
Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0300 from $1.0308 on Monday
Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2361 from $1.2364
Dollar/yen: UP at 151.99 yen from 151.97 yen
Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.33 from 83.35 pence
West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.1 percent at $72.37 per barrel
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.1 percent at $75.98 per barrel
New York – Dow: UP 0.4 percent at 44,470.41 (close)
London – FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 8,767.80 (close)
