Lola Evans
04 Mar 2025, 03:31 GMT+10
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. and Canadian stocks tumbled on Monday, the first trading day of March, with investors spooked by looming trade tariffs. The announcement of 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, set to take effect Tuesday, has raised concerns about potential trade tensions and their impact on the global economy.
"Whether the stock market can survive this change remains to be seen," Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS, said in a note Monday. "One way or another, tariffs will be a shock for the economy."
Following are Monday's closing quotes for the key U.S. indices:
S&P 500: The index fell by 104.78 points, or 1.76 percent, closing at 5,849.72.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: The Dow decreased by 649.67 points, or 1.48 percent, ending at 43,191.24.
NASDAQ Composite: The tech-heavy NASDAQ dropped 497.09 points, or 2.64 percent, to close at 18,350.19.
Global Forex Market Overview: Euro, Yen, and Pound Strengthen Amid Geopolitical Developments
The global foreign exchange market witnessed notable movements in majoir currencies against the U.S. dollar on Monday, influenced by the global geopolitical upheaval unearthed by Friday's shakedown of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenksyy by U.S. officials including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office.
Euro and British Pound Appreciate Against the U.S. Dollar
EUR/USD: The euro strengthened against the US dollar, rising by 0.95 percent to settle at 1.0472. This appreciation comes ahead of the European Central Bank's anticipated interest rate decision, with markets expecting a 25 basis point cut to 2.50 percent.
GBP/USD: The British pound also gained ground, increasing by 0.88 percent to 1.2686. The UK's currency benefited from positive investor sentiment amid ongoing discussions about a potential Ukraine peace plan led by European leaders.
U.S. Dollar Weakens Japanese yen, Swiss franc
USD/JPY: The US dollar declined against the Japanese yen, falling by 0.94 percent to 149.19. This movement aligns with historical trends, as March has traditionally been a modestly bullish month for the yen.
USD/CHF: The dollar weakened against the Swiss franc, decreasing by 0.63 percent to 0.8964, reflecting broader dollar softness amid growing geopolitical uncertainties.
Commodity-Linked Currencies Slide
USD/CAD: The US dollar appreciated against the Canadian dollar, rising by 0.52 percent to 1.4533. This increase is attributed to investor concerns over impending U.S. import tariffs on Canadian goods, set to commence this week.
AUD/USD: The Australian dollar saw a slight tick down against the US dollar, slipping 0.08 percent to 0.6208.
NZD/USD: The New Zealand dollar experienced a modest loss, sliding by 0.24 percent to 0.5606.
Global Stock Markets Rally Amid Positive Economic Data
While stocks in North America tumbled on Monday, share markets in the UK and Europe rallied hard, as tensions between the U.S., Europe and the UK grew following the disastrous showdown between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy on Friday.
Canadian Market
UK and European Markets
UK European stock markets experienced significant gains on Monday, buoyed by positive economic indicators, investor optimism, and a rush for defense industry shares.
Asian Markets
The Asia-Pacific region presented a mixed picture, with some markets advancing while others faced declines.
Oceania
Middle East and Africa
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