Mon Mar 31 13:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Global Markets Plunge on Fears of Trump’s New Tariffs
**New York/London** – Global markets experienced a sharp downturn on Monday, fueled by anxiety over the anticipated announcement of further tariffs by President Trump on major US trading partners. The unpredictable nature of Trump’s “America First” trade policy, characterized by a series of threatened, implemented, and then sometimes paused tariffs, has left investors on edge.
Asian markets were particularly hard hit. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell into a correction, down 12% from its December peak, with losses exceeding 4% in both Japan and Taiwan. South Korea saw a 3% decline. Technology companies, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, SK Hynix, Samsung, and Tokyo Electron, suffered significant losses. While China saw more moderate declines (around 0.5% in mainland China and over 1% in Hong Kong), a report indicating continued expansion in China’s export sector offered some support.
The slump extended to Europe, with the Stoxx 600 index falling 1.8%. German automakers, vulnerable to US tariffs, were particularly affected, with Volkswagen experiencing a decline of over 4%. US futures markets also pointed towards a negative opening, predicting a roughly 1% drop in the S&P 500, following a 2% fall on Friday. This latest downturn marks the fifth weekly decline for the S&P 500 in the past six weeks, raising concerns about the potential for increased inflation and dampened consumer sentiment. The overall market reaction reflects widespread unease regarding the escalating trade tensions and their impact on global economic growth.
First Piper 