Currency Markets Show Caution Amid U.S.-Iran Negotiations 
Japan's Private Sector Growth Slows in March Amid Rising Costs and Middle East Uncertainty 
Suspicious Oil Market Trades Precede Trump's Iran Peace Post by 15 Minutes 
U.S. Oil Prices Slide as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Spark Market Optimism 
U.S. Futures Slide as Iran Denies Nuclear Talks with Washington 
Australia-EU Free Trade Deal Signed After Years of Negotiations 
UK Consumer Confidence Weakens Amid Middle East Conflict and Rising Living Costs 
Middle East War Rattles Global Markets as Oil Tops $100 and Dollar Surges 
Wall Street Slides as Iran War Uncertainty, Oil Surge, and AI Fears Rattle Markets 
Australia's Inflation Eases in February but Core Pressures Persist 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady as Iran Reviews U.S. Ceasefire Proposal 
Federal Reserve Balance Sheet Reduction: Brookings Research Outlines Possible Path Forward 
Asian Currencies Weaken as Dollar Rebounds Amid Middle East Uncertainty and Japan Inflation Data 
Asian Stocks Gain Amid Iran Conflict Uncertainty 
Gold Prices Climb as Middle East Ceasefire Talks Stir Market Optimism 
Japan Eyes Oil Futures Intervention to Stabilize Yen Amid Middle East Crisis 
Asian markets tumbled Monday, with U.S. equity futures pointing sharply lower after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Concerns over a trade war and its economic fallout sent the U.S. dollar surging to record highs against the Chinese yuan, Canadian dollar, and Mexican peso.
Japan’s Nikkei fell 2.3%, while Australia’s benchmark dropped more than 2%. Hong Kong markets opened later, and mainland Chinese exchanges remained closed for Lunar New Year. S&P 500 futures declined 1.7%, while Nasdaq futures slumped 2.5%.
Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10% levy on China, citing illegal immigration and drug trade concerns. Canada and Mexico announced immediate retaliatory measures, while China vowed to challenge the tariffs at the World Trade Organization. The tariffs, set to take effect Tuesday, could trigger a global trade war, with analysts warning of inflationary pressures and economic slowdowns.
EY’s chief economist Greg Daco projected U.S. growth could shrink by 1.5 percentage points, pushing Canada and Mexico into recession. Barclays estimated a 2.8% earnings hit for S&P 500 companies.
The U.S. dollar climbed 0.7% to 7.2552 yuan offshore, reaching a record 7.3765 earlier. It also gained 2.3% against the Mexican peso and 1.4% versus the Canadian dollar, hitting its highest level since 2003. The euro dropped 2.3% to $1.0125, and the yen lost 0.2% to 155.53 per dollar.
Bitcoin fell 5.8% to a three-week low of $96,191.39. Meanwhile, oil prices rose, with WTI crude up 2.4% to $74.27 per barrel and Brent crude gaining 1% to $76.40.
