(Bloomberg) — Stocks dropped in early Asian trading ahead of Donald Trump unveiling a fresh round of trade tariffs this week. Crude oil edged higher after the president threatened “secondary” levies on Russian oil.
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Australian shares and futures on the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 fell more than 0.5% early Monday amid initial signs that trade wars are beginning to affect the world’s biggest economy. Equity futures in Japan, Hong Kong and mainland China also point to losses in early trading. The Australian and New Zealand dollars edged lower while gold made a fresh record high.
US stocks slumped on Friday after data showed a plunge in consumer sentiment, soft spending and a pickup in prices. More volatility is likely this week with Trump due to unveil his so-called reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, though he’s indicated they could be lenient. The US monthly jobs report and comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell are also due.
“Markets will be now be fully at the mercy of an impending deluge of tariff-related headlines, while highly reactive to any US economic data that accelerates the thematic of slower economic activity and higher expected inflation,” said Chris Weston, head of research at Pepperstone Group in Melbourne. “The skew in the distribution of risk is for further lower levels in risky assets early this week, and for higher cross-asset volatility.”
Oil rose after Trump said he would consider “secondary tariffs” on Russian oil and those who buy it, if a ceasefire with Ukraine can’t be reached. Russia is the world’s third largest producer of crude and it could have far reaching effects on the global economy, particularly China and India which have become key buyers.
The S&P 500 closed at its lowest in more than two weeks on Friday, while the VIX Index – Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ and a reading of volatility, topped 22 before easing. Meantime, US Treasuries rallied across the curve, with the yield on benchmark 10-year bonds falling the most since Jan. 15, spurring declines in Australian and New Zealand bond yields dropped in early trading Monday.
In Asia, traders will be parsing Chinese factory activity data for signs prior stimulus announcements are helping steady the economy. Banking stocks will also be closely watched as four of the largest state banks plan a total of up to $72 billion in private placements to boost core tier-1 capital, after Beijing pushed for stronger buffers for lenders to better support the economy.
