Global stock markets across Asia, Europe, and the U.S. fell on Friday after President Donald Trump announced a new set of tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41%. The new measures, made official late Thursday, also include a 40% penalty on goods rerouted through third countries to avoid existing duties. This announcement coincided with an already volatile market, which was dealing with weak tech earnings and an upcoming jobs report.
The impact was felt immediately in Asia. Key indexes in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and China all dropped. South Korea’s KOSPI Index was hit the hardest, falling over 3.6%. Tech companies were among the biggest losers, with Japan’s Tokyo Electron plunging 17% and South Korea’s SK Hynix dropping over 5%. The Chinese yuan also weakened, on track for its worst weekly slide in over six months.
By the time European markets opened, the negative sentiment was already in place. London’s FTSE 100, Germany’s DAX, and the broader Stoxx Europe 600 all opened lower. The lack of specific details on the new transshipment penalties added to the uncertainty, fueling a "risk-off" mood among investors. In the U.S., futures for the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones all declined. While some companies like Apple saw gains, others like Amazon were hit hard by gloomy forecasts.
August 2025, Cryptoniteuae