Equities retreat after Trump tariffs - 3.4.2025

The Dollar weakening has accelerated today. The live dollar index data show the ICE US Dollar index, a measure of the dollar’s strength against a basket of six rival currencies, ended 0.4% lower on Wednesday.

EUR/USD joined GBP/USD’s accelerated climbing yesterday. Both Pound and euro are higher against the dollar currently. AUD/USD joined USD/JPY accelerated retreating on Wednesday with both the yen and the Australian dollar higher against the Greenback currently.

The US stock index futures are deep in red currently ahead of unemployment benefits report at 14:30 CET. US stocks ended higher on Wednesday with the three main US stock benchmarks recording daily gains in a range from 0.6% to 0.9% before president Trump announced a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports to the US and higher duties on some of the country’s biggest trading partners.

European stock indexes are down currently after closing lower yesterday led by healthcare stocks. Asian stock indexes futures are falling currently with Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 All Ordinaries index leading losses as data showed that Australia’s trade surplus sank to a more than four-year low in February as exports fell sharply.

Brent is retreating presently. Prices rose on Wednesday despite the Energy Information Administration (EIA) report US crude oil stock increased by above expected 6.2 million barrels as petroleum inventories rose also. The US oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures gained 0.7% but are lower currently. Brent crude rose 0.6% to $74.95 a barrel on Wednesday.