Public Markets 8-Hour Briefing
×Global Markets React to Tariff Turmoil
Bitcoin tumbled below $65,000 as whale selling and US tariff jitters rattled crypto markets. China is evaluating Trump's tariff ruling, with the Commerce Ministry signaling potential countermeasures. Asian stocks remained skittish on tariff concerns, though Hong Kong and South Korea advanced despite broader uncertainty.
Regional Market Winners and Losers
Chinese stocks in Hong Kong jumped after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's emergency tariffs, putting China among countries set to face lower duties. India faces uncertainty from tariff turmoil, though Centrum remains bullish on consumer staples including Dabur, Marico, Nestle, Britannia, HUL, Godrej Consumer, and Emami. Samsung shares hit record highs on Nvidia supplier speculation, while the Indian rupee needs stronger foreign inflows to sustain its rebound from record lows.
Commodities and Energy
US natural gas jumped on powerful blizzard conditions and higher LNG exports as winter storms boosted heating demand. Oil prices slipped on US-Iran nuclear talks and Trump tariff uncertainty, with crude falling as traders weighed prospects for an Iran nuclear agreement. Gold extended gains on fresh Trump tariff jitters, climbing after three weekly gains as heightened uncertainty over US trade policy unsettled markets and hurt the dollar.
US Market Futures and Tech
US stock futures dropped on Trump tariff turmoil ahead of Nvidia earnings. The dollar and futures on the S&P 500 slid as uncertainty over trade policy damped sentiment toward US assets and raised prospects for heightened volatility across global markets. Nvidia faces a huge day on February 25, with investors watching three key factors in the company's upcoming earnings.
Corporate and Policy Developments
Regis Healthcare shares surged on strong first-half earnings. Rolls-Royce plans a $2 billion share buyback according to Sky News. Chubu Electric eyes a Continuum stake at over $1 billion valuation in advanced talks to buy a stake in India's Continuum Green Energy Ltd. The UK government is drawing up a strategy to protect remaining oil refineries from rising carbon prices after two sites closed.
Trade Policy and International Relations
Singapore dollar strengthened slightly against its US counterpart as traders digested US tariff developments. Australia will keep Trump's beef tariff exemptions, industry sources say, maintaining its position as one of the biggest foreign suppliers of beef to the US. Ecuador is eyeing a $4 billion bond sale return as countries navigate shifting trade dynamics.
Market Structure and Investment Trends
The US-China Business Council president discussed uncertainty around US trade tariffs and impact for businesses navigating China. The Hinrich Foundation head analyzed latest developments with Trump's trade tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down many levies. A fundraising tactic AI startups are using to juice valuations has led to unequal deals for investors, raising questions about how much companies are really worth.
Regional Market Leadership
Lee Jae Myung is using hard lessons from his days as a stock trader to fuel South Korea's rally, turning the country's market into the world's best performer. Investor Ed Garden is building a stake in Fortune Brands, seeking a new CEO as he believes the company behind Moen faucets and Master Lock could grow much larger over the next decade.