- Investors watch closely as Trump’s deadline for higher tariffs on Chinese goods approaches.
- Oil prices dip amid optimism over geopolitical talks and higher OPEC+ supply.
- Tech stocks push Wall Street higher, while media mergers face investor skepticism.
Global equity markets showed mixed performances on Monday as traders waited for a decision from the White House on whether to extend a 90-day pause in tariff hikes against China.
Oil prices continued to soften as optimism grew over potential diplomatic progress in the Ukraine conflict, ahead of President Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Investor Nerves on Display as Trade Truce Deadline Pressures Global Markets
Monday’s market action reflected investor uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-China trade relationship. The temporary halt on higher import taxes, agreed in May, is set to expire Tuesday without clear guidance from President Trump. The last round of talks in Stockholm failed to provide a decisive breakthrough, leaving traders bracing for potential economic ripples.
Asian markets were broadly steady, with Hong Kong and Shanghai advancing slightly, while South Korea’s Kospi slipped. Taiwan’s Taiex gained ground, bolstered by chip giant TSMC, which is often seen as a bellwether for the global semiconductor industry. Reports suggest Nvidia and AMD may agree to share 15% of revenues from AI chip sales to China with the U.S. government—though no official confirmation has been made.
In the U.S., tech stocks have helped power indexes to record territory. Nvidia and Apple led Friday’s gains, while pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences surged on better-than-expected earnings and an upgraded outlook. Travel giant Expedia also impressed investors with strong quarterly results.
Not all corporate headlines were positive. The newly formed Paramount Skydance saw its shares drop sharply just one day after finalizing an $8 billion merger, while rival Warner Bros. Discovery also faced a steep sell-off. Market attention now shifts to upcoming U.S. economic data on inflation and retail sales, which could influence the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions.
With the tariff truce clock ticking, markets remain caught between optimism over corporate earnings and caution over trade and geopolitical uncertainties.
“In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable.” — Robert Arnott
