Global stocks traded mixed Tuesday, with sharp declines in Asia offset by modest rebounds in Europe and on Wall Street, amid similarly contradictory signals on tariffs from the White House as the world's two largest economies ramp-up rhetoric and retaliation in their escalating trade war.
China's decision to reply to U.S. tariffs on its goods with a 25% levy on $60 billion worth of U.S. imports sent markets reeling yesterday on Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging more than 600 points to a three-month low and the S&P 500 giving back 69.5 points to take its decline since President Donald Trump first threatened tariffs on May 5 to 4.5%.
Perhaps sensing the breadth of the selling on Wall Street, Trump told reporters in the White House Monday that a with China's President, Xi Jinping, at next month's G20 summit in Japan would be "very fruitful", adding at a dinner to mark an official visit from Hungary's Viktor Orb??n that "I have a feeling it's going to be very successful."
Still, at the same time, the U.S. Trade Representative said it would hold public hearings on the impact of fresh tariffs on $300 billion worth of China-made goods, a levy that would following last week's imposition of 25% charge on $200 billion worth of imports and raise the stakes in what is now a dangerously-developing trade war.
....so that they will be more competitive for USA buyers. We are now a much bigger economy than China, and have substantially increased in size since the great 2016 Election. We are the "piggy bank" that everyone wants to raid and take advantage of. NO MORE!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)May 14, 2019Asia stocks reacted in kind, with Japan's Nikkei 225 falling for a sixth consecutive session to close at a three-month low of 21,067.23 points. China stocks were active again today, with the Shanghai Composite closing 0.67% lower on the session amid signs of buying from government-backed agencies supporting prices.
The more notable mover during the overnight session, however, was the Chinese yuan, which slipped to a 2019 low of 6.8933 amid speculation that authorities may use the currency as a tool in the trade war, allowing it to weaken in order to lower the price of exported goods and offset tariff increases.
Billions of Dollars, and moving jobs back to the USA where they belong. Other countries are already negotiating with us because they don't want this to happen to them. They must be a part of USA action. This should have been done by our leaders many years ago. Enjoy!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)May 14, 2019U.S. stock futures looked set to claw back at least a few points from last night's sell-off, with contracts tied to the Dow indicating a 114 point gain and those linked to the S&P 500 indicating an 11.9 point bump for the broader benchmark.
European stocks were also stronger by mid-day of trading, with the Stoxx 600 benchmark rising 0.6% in Frankfurt and Britain's FTSE 100 adding 0.83% in London as the pound drifted to 1.2944 against the U.S. dollar.
The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six global currencies, was modestly stronger at 97.34 during the early European session, while benchmark 10-year Treasury note yields added 1 basis point to trade at 2.412% as equity sentiment shifted to a more positive outlook.
China's $1.3 trillion holding of U.S. Treasury bonds, however, presents another headache for investors in a protracted trade war, given rising speculation that Beijing could either cease buying new bonds with the dollar it receives from U.S. trade ($21 billion last month alone) or sell them into the market as a form of tariff retaliation.
The broader impact of a trade-related slowdown in both global and U.S. economic growth is a more pressing concern, however, and is starting to be acknowledged by members of the Federal Reserve, one of which hinted at lower interest rates as a potential counterweight yesterday.
"If the impact of the tariffs - and whatever financial market reaction to those tariffs is - causes more of a slowdown, then we do have the tools available to us, including lower interest rates," Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren told Reuters.
Global oil prices remained active in the overnight session, as well, after swinging in-and-out of positive territory yesterday, amid concerns for global supply routes following allegations of an attack on Saudi tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and slowing world demand for crude as trade dispute mute economic activity in the world's biggest energy markets.
Brent crude contracts for July delivery, the global benchmark for oil prices, were marked 11 cents higher from their Monday close in New York and changing hands at $70.34 per barrel while WTI contracts for June delivery were seen 9 cents lower at $60.95 per barrel.