Asian Markets Rise with Global Trade Optimism

Asian Stocks Show Positive Momentum

Asian stock markets mostly rose on Thursday. Investors are hopeful. They believe global leaders will make deals to ease the impact of new US tariffs.

Investors Stay Positive

President Trump expanded his list of trade penalties. Yet, investors remained optimistic. Key Asian indices saw gains. US markets also continued to hit record highs.

Bitcoin Remains Strong

Bitcoin stayed strong. It remained near its all-time high of $112,000. This rise is due to increasing investor interest and more institutional adoption.

US-Brazil Trade Tensions Increase

Tensions between the US and Brazil rose. President Trump imposed a steep 50% tariff on Brazilian goods. This move caused a sharp sell-off in Brazilian assets.

Brazil’s Response to Tariffs

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the decision. He vowed to impose retaliatory measures.

Global Trade Landscape

More than 20 US trading partners received tariff letters. These include Japan and South Korea. The White House is pushing its “Liberation Day” trade agenda.

Deadline Extended

The deadline for this agenda was originally set for July 9. It has now been extended to August 1.

More Tariffs Considered

President Trump has also suggested a 50% tariff on copper imports. He is considering a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals.

Wall Street Continues to Rally

Despite rising trade tensions, Wall Street continued its rally. The Nasdaq hit another record high. This surge was driven by a rise in Nvidia, which briefly hit a $4 trillion market valuation.

Asian Markets Follow the Trend

Regional Asian markets followed the positive momentum. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, and Singapore all ended higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225, however, slipped 0.5% after facing a 25% US tariff and stalled talks with Washington.

Key Market Figures as of 0230 GMT

• Tokyo – Nikkei 225: Down 0.5% at 39,610.61
• Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: Up 0.2% at 23,938.07
• New York – Dow Jones: Up 0.5% at 44,458.30 (close)
• London – FTSE 100: Up 0.2% at 8,867.02 (close)