Japan Business Sentiment Hits Four-Year High, Boosting Expectations of BOJ Rate Hike 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
U.S. Dollar Slips Near Two-Month Low as Markets Await Key Jobs Data and Central Bank Decisions 
Wall Street Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Struggle Ahead of Key US Economic Data 
China’s Small Bank Consolidation Struggles as Profits Fall and Risks Persist 
Asian Stocks Slide as Central Bank Decisions and Key Data Keep Investors Cautious 
ASX Shares Slide After ASIC Imposes A$150 Million Capital Requirement 
Australian Consumer Sentiment Slumps in Early December as Inflation Fears Resurface 
Dollar Struggles as Markets Eye Key Central Bank Decisions and Global Rate Outlooks 
Gold and Silver Prices Dip as Markets Await Key U.S. Economic Data 
New Zealand Budget Outlook Shows Prolonged Deficits Despite Economic Recovery Hopes 
Fed Rate Cut Signals Balance Between Inflation and Jobs, Says Mary Daly 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Asian Technology and Chipmaking Stocks Slide as AI Spending Concerns Shake Markets 
Oil Prices Slip in Asia as 2026 Supply Glut Fears and Russia-Ukraine Talks Weigh on Markets 
Gold Prices Slip Slightly in Asia as Silver Nears Record Highs on Dovish Fed Outlook 
Global markets tumbled Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, escalating trade tensions and fueling fears of inflation and slower economic growth. U.S. stock futures plummeted, with Nasdaq down 2.35% and S&P 500 futures falling 1.8%.
In response, Canada announced 25% retaliatory tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods, with an initial $30 billion taking effect Tuesday. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also vowed countermeasures. China pledged "counter actions," as concerns mount over economic fallout.
Trump’s executive orders enforce 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and 10% on Chinese goods, starting Tuesday. The uncertainty surrounding the tariffs has unsettled markets, with analysts warning of declining corporate profits, a stronger U.S. dollar, and higher inflation. The Canadian dollar and Chinese yuan weakened sharply, while the Mexican peso slid nearly 12% in anticipation of the tariffs.
Investors fear that the move could stall Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, potentially shaking financial markets. Barclays estimated the tariffs could slash S&P 500 earnings by 2.8%, while Goldman Sachs predicts a 0.7% increase in core inflation and a 0.4% hit to U.S. GDP.
The euro dropped over 1%, hitting a two-year low, while oil prices jumped more than $2. Wall Street strategists expect further stock sell-offs if the tariffs remain. The Federal Reserve, which paused rate cuts last week, is closely monitoring the situation.
With uncertainty looming over global trade, investors brace for volatility as markets assess the long-term impact of Trump’s latest trade war escalation.
