Browsing: US tariffs

Global stock markets, including the Dow Jones and Nasdaq, surged by over 2% following comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding potential de-escalation in trade tensions with China, alleviating investor fears.

Asian markets experienced a significant uptick as President Donald Trump declared his intention not to dismiss U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. This comment has eased investor concerns around monetary policy continuity amid previous threats to replace Powell.

Hangzhou is emerging as a major tech hub in China, often referred to as the country’s ‘Silicon Valley’, with significant companies like Alibaba and DeepSeek leading the charge.

As of 22 April 2025, U.S. stock markets remain volatile following the April 2nd crash, which wiped over $3 trillion in value after President Trump’s sweeping tariffs—up to 125% on Chinese imports—sparked global trade tensions. 

The trade war with China continues to escalate, with the U.S. imposing steep port fees on Chinese-built vessels and restricting AI chip exports, prompting retaliatory tariffs from Beijing. China has also warned it will retaliate against countries that negotiate trade deals with the US “at the expense of China’s interests”, fuelling global tensions as the world’s two economic superpowers face off over tariffs.

These developments have contributed US dollar weakening with the Dollar Index hitting a three-year low amid investor concerns over Federal Reserve independence and economic outlook.

US stock markets experienced substantial losses, particularly in AI chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD, which plummeted after new export restrictions to China were announced.

Vice President JD Vance’s comments that a UK-US trade deal is on the table and both countries are working hard to secure a deal makes several newspaper headlines, as does the latest from the US tariffs amid claims that new tariffs (on pharmaceuticals and big tech) are to come into effect ‘soon.’

The business newspapers are focused on the tariffs and the effects on businesses and the stock markets.

It’s another wet and windy start in the capital, with grey skies hanging over the city and suits marching off to work. I’m sure most are looking ahead to the long weekend. But until then, there’s still a lot happening across the country and around the world that you need to know!

The headlines are packed with various domestic and international stories, with no one story really dominating that much – although we expect that’ll change later today when the US stock markets open.

For now, the Birmingham bin strikes, a potential UK-US deal and a splash of budget talks and celebrity gossip lead the headlines.

The sports headlines look at how agonisingly close Aston Villa came to overturning their second-leg goal deficit. Other headlines look ahead to tonight’s Real Madrid vs Arsenal second leg – the North London club go into the clash ahead thanks to a 3-0 win in the first leg.

China’s economy recorded a 5.4% annual growth in the first quarter of 2025, bolstered by strong exports as companies aimed to circumvent imminent U.S. tariff increases.

The White House is reviewing trade agreements from over 15 countries, with some announcements expected soon, according to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The US tariff situation may have fallen off the front pages of many newspapers, but the business media remains on top of the latest news from Washington. Despite Trump issuing an exemption for big tech in his tariffs on China, he has since signalled that it’s only a temporary measure and investigations are under way into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending.