International News 16 April 2025
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US-China Heat, China's Gold Trade Explodes
The latest developments in the Trump administration's trade policies. Tariff Imports of Semiconductor Chips to Be ImposedImports of gold in China have surged to record levels as trade tensions between the U.S. and China intensify. The Shanghai Futures Exchange reported the highest precious metal trading volumes in a year, driven by investors and industry players seeking to hedge against market fluctuations. The demand for gold has increased as investors consider it a safe haven amid the trade war. Goldman Sachs anticipates that the price of gold could reach $4,000 per troy ounce next year, influenced by central bank acquisitions and the potential for a recession. The surge in gold purchases in China has led to a price disparity between domestic and international markets, reversing the discount observed last year due to subdued domestic demand. In March, China's state central bank augmented its gold reserves by 2.8 tons.
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Trump's Latest Threat: Semiconductor Chip Import Tariffs Coming Soon
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to impose tariffs on semiconductor imports. He noted that there would be flexibility for some companies in the sector. This strategic move by Trump is regarded as a temporary exemption for smartphones and computers from the reciprocal tariffs on China, as he seeks to streamline trade in the semiconductor industry. He underscored his objective to boost domestic production of chips and semiconductors. He did not comment on whether smartphones would still be exempt from the tariffs, but emphasized the need for flexibility in negotiations. Earlier on the same day, Trump launched a national security trade investigation into the semiconductor sector. This development has led to a period of uncertainty in the industry, which had been anticipating an exemption from the high reciprocal tariffs.Asian stock markets opened higher on Tuesday, following a rally in technology stocks on Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei 225 and Topix indices rose by 1.04% and 1.14%, respectively. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi index opened with a 0.39% gain, while the Kosdaq edged down by 0.32%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also demonstrated a positive trend, with an increase of 0.15%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index futures rose to 21,585 from the previous close of 21,417.40. Meanwhile, in India, investors are awaiting the release of March's consumer inflation data, which is expected to be slightly lower than February's figure. Technology stocks also drove gains in the US, with the Dow Jones closing up by 0.78%, the S&P 500 rising by 0.79%, and the Nasdaq Composite up by 0.64%.
Asian Exchanges Strengthen Tuesday (15/4) Morning, Supported by Wall Street Tech Stock Rally
Asian stock markets showed notable growth on Tuesday, following a surge in technology stocks on Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei 225 and Topix indices increased by 1.04% and 1.14%, respectively. In South Korea, the Kospi index opened with a 0.39% gain, while the Kosdaq edged down by 0.32%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 also demonstrated a positive trend, rising by 0.15%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index futures rose to 21,585 from the previous close of 21,417.40. Meanwhile, in India, investors are awaiting the release of March's consumer inflation data, which is expected to be slightly lower than February's figure. Technology stocks also drove gains in the US, with the Dow Jones closing up by 0.78%, the S&P 500 rising by 0.79%, and the Nasdaq Composite up by 0.64%.