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Panic Monday sparks global sell-off

Published

5 months ago

April 7, 2025

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FRANKFURT, April 7, (AP): Global stock markets extended a severe plunge Monday, fueled by fears that U.S. tariffs would lead to a global economic slowdown. European and Asian shares saw dramatic losses, the leading U.S. index flirted with bear market territory in pre-market trading, and oil prices sagged. The massive sell-off in riskier assets at the start of the trading week follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of sharply higher U.S. import taxes and retaliation from China that saw markets fall sharply Thursday and Friday. Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index lost nearly 8% shortly after the market opened and futures trading for the benchmark was briefly suspended. It closed down 7.8% at 31,136.58. European shares followed Asian markets lower, led by Germany’s DAX index, which briefly fell more than 10% at the open on the Frankfurt exchange, but recovered some ground to move down 5.8% in morning trading.

In Paris, the CAC 40 shed 5.8%, while Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 4.9% in the European morning. U.S. futures signaled further weakness ahead. For the S&P 500, they lost 3.4%, while for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, they shed 3.1%. Futures for the Nasdaq lost 5.3%. If the pre-market futures losses materialize when the U.S. market opens, the S&P 500 will enter bear market territory – defined as a fall of more than 20% from the peak. The index was off 17.4% as of the end of last week. On Friday, the worst market crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic shifted into a higher gear as the S&P 500 plummeted 6% and the Dow plunged 5.5%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 3.8%.

“There’s no sign yet that markets are finding a bottom and beginning to stabilize,” wrote Deutsche Bank analysts in a research note. Late Sunday, Trump reiterated his resolve on his decision to introduce tariffs of 10% to 50% on goods imported into the U.S., a move seen as massively disrupting world trade and supply chains across borders. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said he didn’t want global markets to fall, but also that he wasn’t concerned about the massive sell-offs, adding, “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” Heavy selling kicked in after China on Friday matched Trump’s tariff, upping the stakes in a trade war that many fear could end in a global recession.

Even a better-than-expected report on the U.S. job market, usually the economic highlight of each month, wasn’t enough to stop the slide. “The idea that there’s so much uncertainty going forward about how these tariffs are going to play out, that’s what’s really driving this plummet in the stock prices,” said Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group. Chinese markets often don’t follow global trends, but they also tumbled. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 13.2% to 19,828.30, while the Shanghai Composite index lost 7.3% to 3,096.58. In Taiwan, the Taiex plummeted 9.7%. South Korea’s Kospi lost 5.6% to 2,328.20, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 lost 4.2% to 7,343.30, recovering from a loss of more than 6%. Asian economies are heavily exposed to Trump’s tariffs since they are dependent on exports, and a large share go to the United States. “Beyond the market meltdown, the bigger concern is the impact and potential crises for small and trade-dependent economies, so it’s crucial to see whether Trump will reach deals with most countries soon, at least partially,” said Gary Ng of Nataxis. Oil prices also sank further, with U.S. benchmark crude down $2.30 to $59.69 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gave up $2.33 to $63.25 a barrel. As with the larger sell-off, the drop was fueled by fears that the tariffs would slow economic growth. That would hit demand for fuel, and the drop comes after moves to increase production by the OPEC+ producers’ alliance. Exchange rates also gyrated. The U.S. dollar fell to 146.24 Japanese yen from 146.94 yen. The yen is often viewed as a safe haven in times of turmoil.

The euro rose 0.3% to $1.0992. Nathan Thooft, chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager at Manulife Investment Management, said more countries are likely to respond to the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs. Given the large number of countries involved, “it will take a considerable amount of time in our view to work through the various negotiations that are likely to happen.” “Ultimately, our take is market uncertainly and volatility are likely to persist for some time,” he said. The Federal Reserve could cushion the blow of tariffs on the U.S. economy by cutting interest rates. That can encourage companies and households to borrow and spend. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Friday that the higher tariffs could drive up expectations for inflation and lower rates could fuel still more price increases. Much will depend on how long Trump’s tariffs stick and how other countries react. Some investors are holding onto hope he will lower the tariffs after negotiating “wins” from other countries. Stuart Kaiser, head of U.S. equity strategy at Citi, wrote in a note to clients that earnings estimates and stock values still don’t reflect the full potential impact of the trade war. “There is ample space to the downside despite the large pullback,” he said.

Related Topics:global Monday Panic selloff Sparks

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Ethiopia inaugurates Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam as neighbors eye power imports

Published

3 hours ago

September 10, 2025

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A view of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia on Sept 9. (AP)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Sept 10, (AP): Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated Africa’s largest dam to boost the economy, end frequent blackouts and support the growth of electric vehicle development in a country that has banned the importation of gasoline-powered vehicles. As reservoir waters flowed into the turbines of the Grand Renaissance Dam, Ethiopians dressed in colorful regalia viewed the ceremony on large screens across the capital, Addis Ababa, and celebrated the achievement with dancing to traditional music.

“We will have enough power to charge our electric vehicles from the new dam,” said Belay Tigabu, a bus driver in Addis Ababa’s main bus terminal. The almost $5 billion mega-dam, located on the Blue Nile tributary of the Nile River near Ethiopia’s border with Sudan, will produce more than 5,000 megawatts and is expected to double national electricity generation capacity, according to officials. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, speaking during the launch, said the dam was a “big achievement” that would show the world what Africans are capable of accomplishing.

Dozens of visiting African heads of state and government joined Abiy for the inauguration, with many expressing interest in importing power from Ethiopia. “I am proud to announce we will soon be signing an agreement with the government of Ethiopia to receive electricity from the dam that will benefit our hospitals and schools,” said South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir. Kenyan President William Ruto said his nation is looking to sign a power purchasing agreement with Ethiopia based on the resources of the dam project, which he said was a “pan-African statement.”

Already an importer of Ethiopia electricity, Ruto said Kenya is seeking to alleviate the electricity deficit his country is experiencing. He said the dam “exemplifies the scale and ambition of African-led infrastructure and aligns with the Africa Union’s vision of continental energy connectivity.” But Ethiopia’s new dam has faced controversy, with neighboring Egypt expressing concerns over reduced water flows downstream.

Egypt has long opposed the dam because of concerns it would deplete its share of Nile waters. The Arab world’s most populous country relies almost entirely on the Nile to supply water for agriculture and its more than 100 million people. Tamim Khallaf, a spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told The Associated Press that the dam posed an “existential threat.”

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Asian shares mostly rise, cheered by Wall Street rally to more records

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5 hours ago

September 10, 2025

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A dealer stands near the screens showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), (left), and the foreign exchange rate between US dollar and South Korean won at a dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul, South Korea on Sept 10. (AP)

TOKYO, Sept 10, (AP): Asian shares mostly rose in early Wednesday trading, echoing record rallies on Wall Street after the latest update on the job market bolstered hopes the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.9% to finish at 43,837.67. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.3% to 8,830.40.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.7% to 3,314.66. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.1% to 26,223.30, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.2% to 3,814.63. Uncertainty is still in the air over US-China tariff issues as bilateral talks continue. US President Donald Trump has raised taxes on imports from China, triggering a tit-for-tat tariff war.

The U.S. is currently charging an additional 30% tariff on Chinese goods and China is charging a 10% tariff under a de-escalation deal reached in May. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.3% and squeaked past its all-time high set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 196 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4%.

They likewise set records. Traders have become convinced that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in a week, in order to prop up the slowing job market. A report on Tuesday offered the latest signal of weakness, when the US government said its prior count of jobs across the country through March may have been too high by 911,000, or 0.6%.

That was before President Donald Trump shocked the economy and financial markets in April by rolling out tariffs on countries worldwide. The bet on Wall Street is that such data will convince Fed officials that the job market is the bigger problem now for the economy than the threat of inflation worsening because of Trump’s tariffs.

That would push them to cut interest rates, a move that would give the economy a boost but could also send inflation higher. A lot is riding on Wall Street’s hope that the job market is slowing by just the right amount: Investors have already sent US stock prices to records because of it. Inflation also needs to stay at a reasonable level, even though it looks tough to get below the Fed’s target of 2%. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.08% from 4.05% late Monday.

Business

Real estate transactions dip sharply in Kuwait

Published

20 hours ago

September 9, 2025

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: The real estate market witnessed a significant decline in the number and value of transactions in the first week of September, compared to the same period last year, as well as the last week of August. This is a clear indication that the market has entered a period of relative calm and investment anticipation driven by seasonal factors and qualitative shifts in transactions, particularly commercial real estate, which accounted for about 60 percent of the total trading value during the week, compared to only three transactions. It reflects the interest of major institutions or entities in ‘heavy’ commercial transactions. The weekly report of the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Department at the Ministry of Justice for the period from Sept 1 to 3 showed that the number of real estate transactions was 62, with a total value of KD83.92 million.

These include 37 private transactions worth KD 13.5 million, 22 investment transactions worth KD 17.6 million, and three commercial transactions worth KD 52.8 million. Compared to the first week of September 2024, weekly trading recorded a decline of approximately 39 percent in the number of transactions, compared to a 16.8 percent increase in total value due to the completion of qualitative commercial deals. The number of transactions during that period reached 101, valued at KD 69.8 million, reflecting a quantitative decline versus a qualitative increase in transactions on an annual basis. Compared to trading during the fourth (and final) week of August 2025, the decline was more severe, with 139 transactions recorded, valued at KD 163.24 million.

This is a decline of approximately 55 percent in the number of transactions (77 transactions) and a 49 percent decrease in the value or KD 79.32 million. It is a clear indication that the market has entered a short-term slowdown after a remarkable wave of activity in August. Regarding private real estate transactions, they declined from 89 in the last week of August to just 37, a decrease of nearly 58 percent. The value also fell from KD 33.4 million to KD 13.5 million — by KD19.9 million, a decrease of nearly 60 percent. This indicates a decline in residential ownership activity due to travel or investors’ anticipation of market movements following the recent enactment of several real estate laws. Despite the decline in the number of investment transactions from 28 in August 2025 to 22 in September, the value of transactions increased to KD 17.6 million, compared to KD 15.3 million in August. It means continued demand for investment properties and the search for attractive, quality opportunities. As for commercial transactions, only three transactions were recorded this week, worth KD52.8 million or 60 percent of the total weekly trading value. It shows the execution of quality deals and investors’ focus on quality transactions and assets with long-term returns.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff