U.S. stocks fluctuated on Friday, ending a volatile but strong May as investors weighed fresh trade tensions with China and cooling inflation data. The S&P 500 ended nearly flat after falling more than 1% intraday, while the Nasdaq fell 0.4% and the Dow rose 107 points. The market swings were triggered after President Trump accused China of violating their latest trade deal, with reports further pressuring that the administration plans to expand technology restrictions targeting Chinese companies. Trade talks appeared to have stalled, and legal uncertainty surrounding Trump's tariff...
The Nikkei 225 Index dropped 1.3% to below 37,500 while the broader Topix Index lost 0.9% to 2,777 on Monday, declining for the second consecutive session as renewed tariff threats from US President Donald Trump rattled markets. Market jitters were triggered by Trump's announcement of plans to double tariffs on steel imports to 50%, effective June 4. The news weighed heavily on Japanese steelmakers, with JFE Holdings and Kobe Steel dropping 1.8% and 1.0%, respectively. Nippon Steel slipped 0.5%, cushioned somewhat by Trump's praise of its proposed merger with US Steel. Losses extended...
Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed after President Donald Trump told U.S. steelworkers late Friday that he will double tariffs on steel imports to 50%, effective from Wednesday. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.89% and the Topix declined 0.65% at the open. South Korea's Kospi added 0.16% while the small-cap Kosdaq traded flat. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was also unchanged at the open. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 1.66%.China, Malaysia and New Zealand markets are closed for the holidays. "We're going to bring it from 25% to 50%, the tariffs on steel into the United States of...