U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Middle East Tensions, Weak China GDP Weigh on Sentiment 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S. Strikes on Iran Raise Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
AI Chip Stocks Face Valuation Pressure as Investors Shift Toward Big Tech and Software 
US Inflation Expected to Ease in June, but Fed Rate Hike Risks Persist Amid Middle East Tensions 
South Korea’s KOSPI Enters Bear Market Despite Remaining 2026’s Best-Performing Major Stock Index 
Asian Stocks Slide as Nikkei Leads Losses on Tech Selloff and Rising U.S.-Iran Tensions 
China Home Prices Fall Again in June Despite Slower Pace of Decline 
UBS Boosts China Tech Bets, Adds Kuaishou and Meituan to Focus List 
Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar 
Nikkei Plunges 5% as AI Stock Selloff Spreads Across Asia 
Japan Core Inflation Seen Rising in June, Strengthening BOJ Rate Hike Outlook 
Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings 
Asian Stocks Rise as Softer U.S. Inflation Boosts Sentiment Despite Middle East Tensions 
Dollar Slides as Softer US Inflation Dims Fed Rate Hike Expectations 
South Korea Raises Interest Rates to 2.75% as Inflation and Weak Won Drive Tightening 
Asian stock markets tumbled on Monday amid mounting fears of expanded U.S. trade tariffs under President Donald Trump. Most regional indexes posted steep losses as risk sentiment soured, despite strong economic data from China.
Investors grew wary after a Wall Street Journal report indicated Trump may unveil broader tariffs targeting key U.S. trading partners. The White House is set to introduce new reciprocal tariffs on April 2, potentially impacting sectors like semiconductors, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. This follows last week's announcement of a 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars.
Wall Street’s sharp Friday losses, triggered by stronger-than-expected inflation data, added to the global risk-off mood. U.S. stock index futures also fell in Asian trading on Monday, further pressuring sentiment.
Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped 3.9%, South Korea’s KOSPI slid 2.6%, and the TOPIX lost 3.3%, dragged down by auto and tech stocks. AI-linked firms were particularly hard hit due to concerns over oversupply in data center infrastructure, following reports that Microsoft canceled several data center leases.
China’s Shanghai Composite and CSI 300 each declined 0.7%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell 1.5%. Stronger-than-expected PMI data for March, reflecting gains in both manufacturing and services, failed to boost sentiment. Though the data signaled that Beijing's aggressive stimulus is taking effect, investors remained cautious amid looming U.S. tariffs.
Australia’s ASX 200 also dropped 1.6% ahead of a Reserve Bank of Australia policy decision. Several Southeast Asian markets were closed due to holidays.
Despite outperforming in recent months on stimulus optimism, Chinese stocks remain vulnerable to escalating trade tensions, which continue to weigh on Asian market performance overall.
