Latest news with #LiberationDay
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gold hits over one-week low after US court blocks Trump's tariffs
By Anmol Choubey (Reuters) - Gold touched a more than one-week low on Thursday after a U.S. federal court blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, dampening the metal's safe-haven allure, while a robust dollar further pressured the bullion. Spot gold was down 0.7% at $3,268 an ounce, as of 0242 GMT, after hitting its lowest since May 20. U.S. gold futures dropped 0.1% to $3,265. A U.S. trade court on Wednesday halted the enforcement of Trump's tariffs, ruling the president exceeded his authority by imposing universal duties on imports from nations with a trade surplus with the United States. "This was obviously the most important news driver and looking at the broad, dollar sort of rallied on that and obviously helped push gold lower," said Nicholas Frappell, global head of institutional markets at ABC Refinery. On April 2, Trump had levied "reciprocal tariffs" on multiple countries, stoking fears of a global recession. However, many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later. Following the trade court's ruling, the U.S. dollar index rallied making greenback-priced gold more expensive, with Wall Street futures and Asian equities also climbing. [MKTS/GLOB][USD/] Meanwhile, the Trump administration filed a notice of appeal, challenging the court's authority and signalling a potential escalation to the Supreme Court if necessary. But the gold market is still bullish as "longer term outlook suggests a weaker dollar and there's still likely to be some inflationary pressures near term," Frappell said. The minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's May 6-7 session showed that officials are concerned about the potential for concurrent rises in inflation and unemployment, a scenario that would necessitate a choice between implementing tighter monetary policy to combat inflation or lowering interest rates to support economic growth and employment. The market now awaits U.S. GDP data due later in the day, with core U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures data for further cues on rate cut trajectory. Elsewhere, spot silver rose 0.4% to $33.12 an ounce, platinum was steady at $1,075.50 and palladium edged 0.9% higher to $971.30.
Business Upturn
39 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Global markets rally as U.S. court blocks Trump-era tariffs; AI earnings also boost sentiment
Global equity markets opened higher on Thursday, buoyed by sharp gains in U.S. futures after a landmark federal court ruling blocked former President Donald Trump's authority to impose trade tariffs. The move was viewed as a significant de-escalation of trade-related risks, further supported by strong quarterly results from artificial intelligence major Nvidia. A U.S. federal court ruled that Donald Trump did not have the authority to set tariffs unilaterally, effectively blocking the so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs introduced during his presidency. The Trump administration has already appealed the decision. The White House issued a sharp response, stating, 'It's not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency.' This legal development was interpreted by markets as a rollback of protectionist trade policies, leading to a relief rally in equities. U.S. stock index futures surged in response: Dow Futures jumped 500 points (+1.19%) to 42,599 Nasdaq Futures gained 400 points (+1.88%) to 21,718 Russell 2000 Futures rose 41 points (+1.98%) to 2,109 The positive momentum spilled over into global markets: Germany's DAX Futures were up 190 points (+0.79%) UK's FTSE Futures added 62 points (+0.70%) Japan's Nikkei Index gained 529 points (+1.40%) to 38,252 South Korea's KOSPI rose 30 points (+1.14%) Taiwan's Taiex Futures climbed 141 points (+0.67%) India's GIFT Nifty was up 57 points (+0.23%) at 24,820 (adjusted). However, Hang Seng Futures in Hong Kong edged slightly lower by 24 points (-0.10%). This rebound comes after a slightly negative close on Wall Street on the previous day: Dow Jones closed at 42,099, down 245 points (-0.58%) Nasdaq ended at 19,101, lower by 98 points (-0.51%) Analysts noted that the combination of strong AI earnings and legal checks on unilateral tariff powers has infused fresh optimism across equity markets globally. News desk at
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Stocks, dollar rally as Trump tariffs hit court hurdle
SYDNEY: Asian shares and Wall Street futures jumped in Asia on Thursday after a US federal court blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs from going into effect, sending the dollar up on safe haven currencies. The little-known Manhattan-based Court of International Trade ruled that Trump overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy. The White House quickly appealed the decision, and could take it all the way to the Supreme Court if needed, but in the meantime it offered some hope that Trump might back away from the highest tariff levels he had threatened. "It's long been suggested that the emergency powers Trump has used to implement tariffs were unconstitutional and that the power to enact tariffs sits with Congress," said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial analyst at "Should the markets get their way, the courts could delay and then deny these tariffs, removing one massive risk and undoubtedly stoking risk appetite." It could also encourage US trading partners to stall any trade negotiations they are having with the White House while waiting to see how the case is resolved. "The ruling will obviously throw into disarray the administration's push to quickly seal trade 'deals' during the 90-day pause from tariffs that have now been declared to be illegal," said Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist at Capital Economics. "Other countries will wait and see whether a higher court is willing to reverse this ruling." Investors reacted by embracing equities and Japan's Nikkei quickly rose 1.7 per cent, while South Korean shares gained 1.2 per cent to a nine-month top. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.3 per cent, while Chinese blue chips firmed 0.5 per cent. The ripples were felt worldwide as EUROSTOXX 50 futures rose 1.1 per cent, while FTSE futures gained 0.7 per cent and DAX futures 0.9 per cent. NVIDIA RELIEVES S&P 500 futures climbed 1.6 per cent, while Nasdaq futures rose 1.9 per cent. The latter had already been lifted by relief over earnings from Nvidia, which beat sales estimates. The chipmaker and AI darling also projected strong revenues for the current quarter, sending its shares up 4.4 per cent after hours. That news helped offset a Financial Times report that the White House had ordered US firms that offer software used to design semiconductors to stop selling their services to Chinese groups. The New York Times separately reported the United States had suspended some sales to China of critical US technologies, including those related to jet engines, semiconductors and certain chemicals. The news of the court decision hit traditional safe haven currencies, lifting the dollar 0.7 per cent on the Swiss franc to 0.8327 . It gained 0.7 per cent on the Japanese yen to 145.86 yen , while the euro dipped 0.4 per cent to US$1.1245. Yields on 10-year Treasuries rose 3 basis points to 4.51 per cent and markets further shaved the chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut anytime soon. Minutes of the last Fed meeting showed "almost all participants commented on the risk that inflation could prove to be more persistent than expected" due to Trump's tariffs. A rate cut in July is now seen as just a 22 per cent chance, while September has come into around 60 per cent having been more than fully priced a month ago. In commodity markets, gold slipped 0.9 per cent to US$3,259 an ounce . Oil prices extended a rally begun on supply concerns as OPEC+ agreed to leave their output policy unchanged and as the US barred Chevron from exporting Venezuelan crude. Brent rose 66 cents to US$65.56 a barrel, while US crude firmed 70 cents to US$62.54 per barrel.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Gold touches over one-week low after US court blocks Trump's tariffs
KUALA LUMPUR: Gold hit a more than one-week low on Thursday, as the dollar rallied and risk sentiment improved after a US federal court blocked President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs from going into effect. Spot gold was down 0.5 per cent at US$3,262.99 an ounce, as of 0057 GMT, its lowest since May 20. US gold futures dropped 1.1 per cent to US$3,259.50. A US trade court on Wednesday blocked Trump's tariffs from going into effect, ruling that the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from nations that sell more to the United States than they buy. The White House quickly appealed the decision, and could take it all the way to the Supreme Court if needed, but in the meantime it offered some hope that Trump might back away from the highest tariff levels he had threatened. The dollar index jumped 0.5 per cent to a more than one-week high, making greenback-priced gold more expensive for other currency holders, while US Treasury yields also rose. Asian shares and Wall Street futures climbed in Asia on Thursday. * US Federal Reserve officials at their May 6–7 meeting acknowledged possible "difficult tradeoffs" ahead, with rising inflation and unemployment, and warned about growing recession risks, according to meeting minutes on Wednesday. Investors now await US GDP data later in the day, followed by Friday's Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) numbers and comments from US central bank officials for more cues on interest rates. SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.34 per cent to 925.61 metric tons on Wednesday from 922.46 tons on Tuesday. Elsewhere, spot silver eased 0.2 per cent to US$32.93 an ounce, platinum was steady at US$1,074.90 and palladium edged 0.3 per cent higher to US$964.75.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs live updates: Court of International Trade deems majority of tariffs 'unlawful'
The US Court of International Trade has voted to block the vast majority of President Trump's global tariffs after deeming the method used to enact them 'unlawful'. This places most of the tariffs on an indefinite hold while the administration appeals the decision through the Supreme Court. Tariffs impacted include the flat-rate 'reciprocal' tariffs aimed at US trade partners as well as and key China-focused duties, while leaving some duties, specifically those covering steel, aluminum, and certain Chinese goods, intact. Prior to the court's decision, President Trump on Wednesday criticized an emerging Wall Street trading philosophy in response to his ever-shifting tariff policies. The term "TACO" trade — short for "Trump Always Chickens Out" — has come in response to Trump's frequent pattern with tariffs: High tariffs send markets reeling until Trump backs off. Trump called a reporter who asked him about the term "nasty" before defending his strategy as one that has helped the US gain leverage in trade negotiations. "It's called negotiation," he said. Negotiations have continued in earnest this week, with an FT report on Wednesday saying India has offered the US steep tariff cuts but is seeking to retain high duties on some agricultural commodities. India is not the only trading partner seeking a tariff reprieve. On Wednesday, the EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said the European Commission is discussing with the US possible cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors, steel, and aerospace, and is in search of a deal to limit tariffs. The European Union has agreed to fast-track trade talks with the US in a bid to avoid Trump's 50% tariffs — which, in an about-face, he announced would be delayed until July 9. Šefčovič said the EU held "good calls" with Trump administration officials on Monday after the close trading partners moved forward with negotiations amid Trump's tariff-fueled push to rework global trade relationships. Trump had been frustrated with the pace of negotiations, saying last week that the bloc has been "very difficult to deal with." Meanwhile, Apple (AAPL) remains in high focus after Trump said the company would face 25% tariffs if it didn't move iPhone production to the US. He later said that would apply to other phone makers, including Samsung ( Nvidia (NVDA) is also set for a high-stakes earnings report Wednesday, its first since many of the tariffs went into effect. Its stock has swung wildly this year amid Trump's tariffs and other moves. Live updates: Nvidia's earnings report Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. The decision's focus on IEEPA immediately throws into doubt some of the most far-reaching of Trump's tariff actions since taking office. Most notably, those include his "Liberation Day" tariffs of 10% on nearly the entire world, as well as the current threat of higher tariffs on countries that fail to reach a deal during his 90-day pause. The president has also relied on IEEPA to impose duties on nations such as Mexico, Canada, and China, claiming that the nations' failure to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migration into the US threatened US national security. [...] Duties based on other laws like those Trump has imposed on certain aluminum and steel products are not included in the court's decision. Recent duties on automobiles imposed by the president use so-called Section 232 tariff authority derived from a separate law called the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The tariffs on steel and aluminum also rely on Section 232. Read more here. President Donald Trump's tariffs have been deemed illegal and blocked in a landmark trade court ruling that ruled the president used unlawful emergency powers by imposing broad levies on imports. The decision suspends Trump's flat-rate tariffs and key China-focused duties, while leaving some tariffs, specifically those covering steel, aluminum, and some Chinese goods, intact. The ruling, issued by the Court of International Trade, is set to be appealed and could reach the Supreme Court. Investors are watching closely, as the outcome will reshape the global trade landscape and has huge ramifications on trust in Trump as a market manager. Markets, already volatile amid ongoing tariff uncertainty since the April 2 executive order, reacted swiftly to the news with major gauge futures making leaps of up to 2%. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. President Trump on Wednesday criticized an emerging Wall Street trading philosophy in response to his ever-shifting tariff policies. The term "TACO trade" — apparently first coined by the Financial Times early this month — has been flying around Wall Street in recent weeks and entered even more into the public consciousness over the past few days. The acronym stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." The pattern is clear: Trump announces heavy tariffs, sending markets reeling until he backs off, sending markets flying. A reporter asked Trump at the White House on Wednesday for his response to the school of thought. He did not appear to be aware of the acronym, but was also not pleased to learn its meaning. "Isn't that nice ... I've never heard that," he said, before launching into a defense of recent moves. Earlier in May, the US reached a detente with China after the countries imposed massive tariffs on each other. Then last week, Trump announced massive 50% tariffs on EU imports, only to backtrack a couple days later and push back his deadline for more negotiating time. "After I did what I did, they said, 'We'll meet anytime you want,'" Trump said of the EU. He said of China, "In many ways, I think we really helped China tremendously." "Don't ever say what you said," Trump then told the reporter. "That's a nasty question." AutoZone's (AZO) management said on Tuesday that inflation from tariffs hasn't had a major impact on costs yet because it takes a while for its products to ship to the US. However, executives at the auto parts retailer said they expect inflation to accelerate if substantial tariffs remain in place. "I think one of the reasons that you haven't seen a lot of the tariff cost in our side of the business is ... most of our inventory turns relatively slow compared to many other industries, hard parts in particular," AutoZone CEO Philip Daniele said on the company's fiscal third quarter earnings call. "And that product just hasn't shown up here in the country. And as you know, this stuff has changed pretty significantly over the last 90 days or 120 days. I mean there will be an impact to tariffs on the cost of goods." AutoZone reported SKU inflation of 1% for the quarter and said it expects to see inflation of 3% over time. The company sources many of its products from China and other East Asian countries, Eastern Europe, and Mexico. AutoZone CFO Jamere Jackson noted that, other than tariffs, a lot of the drivers of cost increases have come down, particularly freight prices. "However, if we do see significant tariffs, that will indeed have an inflationary impact," Jackson stated. Reuters reports: German carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are in talks with the U.S. Department of Commerce on a tariff deal that would involve a mechanism to offset imports and exports, the Handelsblatt business daily reported on Wednesday. In return for tariff relief, the companies could invest billions in the United States, the report said citing company sources. It did not give a more exact sum. Reuters reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Hamza Shaban reports on Wall Street's dilemma with Trump's tariffs: Read more here. More retailers are feeling the impact of Trump's tariffs as both Macy's (M) and Michael Kors parent company Capri (CAPR) lowered their annual profit and revenue forecasts on Wednesday, citing tariffs as the cause. Capri cut its revenue forecast for 2026, signaling that tariff-related uncertainty was weighing on demand for its handbags and accessories in North America and Asia. Macy's followed in a similar fashion: Yahoo Finance senior reporter Brooke DiPalma said the company reaffirmed its sales guidance, but revised its earnings outlook due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs, consumer sentiments, and the competitive landscape. Macy's is facing multiple macro headwinds as consumer sentiment sags, costs rise with Trump's tariffs, and trends grow toward e-commerce and direct-to-consumer. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. India has offered steep cuts to its import tariffs on a range of goods in talks with the US, but is said to be retaining high duties on certain agricultural commodities, according to people familiar with the negotiations. The FT reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. As the US and European Union negotiate a new trade deal to avoid President Trump-imposed tariffs, it's worth taking a moment to note that the US and the EU have the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. According to the Council of the European Union (and converted to USD), the transatlantic trade in goods and services topped 1.8 trillion in 2023 after a post-pandemic surge: A measure of tariff revenue has spiked this month as importers paid the baseline "Liberation Day" tariffs that went into effect on April 5, along with other duties set by President Trump. Government receipts for "Customs and Certain Excise Taxes" have already topped $22.3 billion this month, according to Treasury Department data. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer reports: Read more here. The Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged Southeast Asian and Gulf states to help create a 'big market', in a bid to counter US efforts to isolate China's economy. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Retailers, who have suffered under Trump's tariffs, are increasingly warming to offers to sell in order to escape market volatility that has caused company valuations to seesaw in recent months, according to a report in Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia's Trade and Industry minister Zafrul Aziz said that the US reducing its proposed tariffs on Malaysia to 10% is a positive move, conceding that a previously hoped for levy of zero may not be possible. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. The decision's focus on IEEPA immediately throws into doubt some of the most far-reaching of Trump's tariff actions since taking office. Most notably, those include his "Liberation Day" tariffs of 10% on nearly the entire world, as well as the current threat of higher tariffs on countries that fail to reach a deal during his 90-day pause. The president has also relied on IEEPA to impose duties on nations such as Mexico, Canada, and China, claiming that the nations' failure to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migration into the US threatened US national security. [...] Duties based on other laws like those Trump has imposed on certain aluminum and steel products are not included in the court's decision. Recent duties on automobiles imposed by the president use so-called Section 232 tariff authority derived from a separate law called the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The tariffs on steel and aluminum also rely on Section 232. Read more here. President Donald Trump's tariffs have been deemed illegal and blocked in a landmark trade court ruling that ruled the president used unlawful emergency powers by imposing broad levies on imports. The decision suspends Trump's flat-rate tariffs and key China-focused duties, while leaving some tariffs, specifically those covering steel, aluminum, and some Chinese goods, intact. The ruling, issued by the Court of International Trade, is set to be appealed and could reach the Supreme Court. Investors are watching closely, as the outcome will reshape the global trade landscape and has huge ramifications on trust in Trump as a market manager. Markets, already volatile amid ongoing tariff uncertainty since the April 2 executive order, reacted swiftly to the news with major gauge futures making leaps of up to 2%. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. President Trump on Wednesday criticized an emerging Wall Street trading philosophy in response to his ever-shifting tariff policies. The term "TACO trade" — apparently first coined by the Financial Times early this month — has been flying around Wall Street in recent weeks and entered even more into the public consciousness over the past few days. The acronym stands for "Trump Always Chickens Out." The pattern is clear: Trump announces heavy tariffs, sending markets reeling until he backs off, sending markets flying. A reporter asked Trump at the White House on Wednesday for his response to the school of thought. He did not appear to be aware of the acronym, but was also not pleased to learn its meaning. "Isn't that nice ... I've never heard that," he said, before launching into a defense of recent moves. Earlier in May, the US reached a detente with China after the countries imposed massive tariffs on each other. Then last week, Trump announced massive 50% tariffs on EU imports, only to backtrack a couple days later and push back his deadline for more negotiating time. "After I did what I did, they said, 'We'll meet anytime you want,'" Trump said of the EU. He said of China, "In many ways, I think we really helped China tremendously." "Don't ever say what you said," Trump then told the reporter. "That's a nasty question." AutoZone's (AZO) management said on Tuesday that inflation from tariffs hasn't had a major impact on costs yet because it takes a while for its products to ship to the US. However, executives at the auto parts retailer said they expect inflation to accelerate if substantial tariffs remain in place. "I think one of the reasons that you haven't seen a lot of the tariff cost in our side of the business is ... most of our inventory turns relatively slow compared to many other industries, hard parts in particular," AutoZone CEO Philip Daniele said on the company's fiscal third quarter earnings call. "And that product just hasn't shown up here in the country. And as you know, this stuff has changed pretty significantly over the last 90 days or 120 days. I mean there will be an impact to tariffs on the cost of goods." AutoZone reported SKU inflation of 1% for the quarter and said it expects to see inflation of 3% over time. The company sources many of its products from China and other East Asian countries, Eastern Europe, and Mexico. AutoZone CFO Jamere Jackson noted that, other than tariffs, a lot of the drivers of cost increases have come down, particularly freight prices. "However, if we do see significant tariffs, that will indeed have an inflationary impact," Jackson stated. Reuters reports: German carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are in talks with the U.S. Department of Commerce on a tariff deal that would involve a mechanism to offset imports and exports, the Handelsblatt business daily reported on Wednesday. In return for tariff relief, the companies could invest billions in the United States, the report said citing company sources. It did not give a more exact sum. Reuters reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Hamza Shaban reports on Wall Street's dilemma with Trump's tariffs: Read more here. More retailers are feeling the impact of Trump's tariffs as both Macy's (M) and Michael Kors parent company Capri (CAPR) lowered their annual profit and revenue forecasts on Wednesday, citing tariffs as the cause. Capri cut its revenue forecast for 2026, signaling that tariff-related uncertainty was weighing on demand for its handbags and accessories in North America and Asia. Macy's followed in a similar fashion: Yahoo Finance senior reporter Brooke DiPalma said the company reaffirmed its sales guidance, but revised its earnings outlook due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs, consumer sentiments, and the competitive landscape. Macy's is facing multiple macro headwinds as consumer sentiment sags, costs rise with Trump's tariffs, and trends grow toward e-commerce and direct-to-consumer. Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. India has offered steep cuts to its import tariffs on a range of goods in talks with the US, but is said to be retaining high duties on certain agricultural commodities, according to people familiar with the negotiations. The FT reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. As the US and European Union negotiate a new trade deal to avoid President Trump-imposed tariffs, it's worth taking a moment to note that the US and the EU have the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. According to the Council of the European Union (and converted to USD), the transatlantic trade in goods and services topped 1.8 trillion in 2023 after a post-pandemic surge: A measure of tariff revenue has spiked this month as importers paid the baseline "Liberation Day" tariffs that went into effect on April 5, along with other duties set by President Trump. Government receipts for "Customs and Certain Excise Taxes" have already topped $22.3 billion this month, according to Treasury Department data. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer reports: Read more here. The Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged Southeast Asian and Gulf states to help create a 'big market', in a bid to counter US efforts to isolate China's economy. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. Retailers, who have suffered under Trump's tariffs, are increasingly warming to offers to sell in order to escape market volatility that has caused company valuations to seesaw in recent months, according to a report in Reuters. Reuters reports: Read more here. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here. Malaysia's Trade and Industry minister Zafrul Aziz said that the US reducing its proposed tariffs on Malaysia to 10% is a positive move, conceding that a previously hoped for levy of zero may not be possible. Bloomberg News reports: Read more here.
