Asia-Pacific markets set to fall on renewed China-U.S. trade tensions
Asia-Pacific markets were set to fall Monday, as investors kept an eye out for any fallout from the renewed China-U.S. trade tensions.
-
-
Goldman sees US–China tariff standoff easing into prolonged pause, not full escalation
Goldman Sachs said it expects both Washington and Beijing to step back from the brink of a full-blown trade war after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports in response to Beijing’s rare earth export curbs.
The bank said the most likely outcome is that both sides de-escalate their most aggressive positions and return to negotiations, leading to an extension — possibly an indefinite one — of the tariff-pause agreement reached in May. Goldman noted that while tensions remain high, neither side has an interest in triggering major economic disruption given the global reliance on Chinese rare earths and the US’s own exposure to supply-chain risks.
The analysis implies that Trump’s threat may be intended as leverage rather than an imminent policy move, while Beijing’s restrictions may serve as a bargaining tool to protect its technological advantage. Goldman sees the likely path as a “managed confrontation” — a tense but stable phase in which both economies avoid escalation while maintaining political pressure.
—
Goldman’s assessment points to a lower immediate risk of tariff escalation, which could support risk assets and commodity markets sensitive to rare earth supply. However, the “pause” scenario still leaves uncertainty over trade policy and tech-sector supply chains.
Earlier:
Friday ICYMI:
Late Friday:
China responds over the weekend:
Some TACO moves already, some murmurings of Trump already backing off. BRB with more on this:
Latest:
- Pentagon to buy $1bn in critical minerals to cut China reliance
- Trump says he thinks we are going to be fine with China, Nov 1 tariffs still the plan
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
UK CFOs flag record competitiveness fears ahead of Reeves’s tax-heavy budget
Chief financial officers at major UK firms are more anxious about competitiveness and productivity than at any point since 2014, according to Deloitte’s latest quarterly CFO survey — a sign of mounting business unease ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s November budget.
Reuters with the info.
The July–September poll showed corporate worries over competitiveness now rival geopolitical risks, even as global tensions eased after US President Donald Trump’s new trade deals softened the impact of his tariff measures.
CFOs are prioritising cost-cutting, cash preservation, and debt reduction, Deloitte’s UK chief economist Ian Stewart said.
While the survey didn’t directly ask about tax policy, businesses remain wary following last year’s rise in social security contributions, and many expect Reeves to raise taxes again on November 26 to meet fiscal goals. A record 84% of CFOs foresee operating costs climbing in the coming year — the highest reading in more than four years.
A separate BDO report found firms slowed hiring in September amid cost pressures and budget uncertainty, though optimism improved slightly thanks to stronger order books and expectations of increased US investment.
—
The findings highlight deepening corporate caution ahead of the UK budget, with expectations of further tax hikes and sticky inflation likely to weigh on investment and hiring in coming quarters.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
Australian stock traders note: ANZ to cancel remaining A$800 million portion of buyback
ANZ Group will cancel the remaining A$800 million (US$520 million) portion of its share buyback as new CEO Nuno Matos pivots toward conserving cash and resetting the bank’s long-term growth strategy;
also detailed plans for A$800 million in gross cost savings through previously announced job cuts (about 3,500 roles), team restructures, and divestments of non-core assets
ANZ is Australia’s fourth-largest lender, will be paying an A$240 million in penalties after admitting to systemic compliance failures, including “unconscionable” conduct in a government bond transaction.
To boost capital retention, ANZ will apply a 1.5% discount to its next two dividend reinvestment plans, while maintaining a final dividend consistent with its interim payout.
The bank had originally launched a A$2 billion buyback in May 2024 after posting in-line first-half results.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
USD/JPY rebounds above 152.00 on political turmoil in Japan
The USD/JPY pair trades in positive territory near 152.05 during the early Asian session on Monday. The pair recovers some lost ground after facing some selling pressure in the previous session as US President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs against China. -
Netherlands intervenes at Chinese-owned chip-maker Nexperia over China technology concerns
The Dutch government announced on Sunday that it is taking action at Nexperia, a Chinese-owned major local chipmaker, citing concerns that sensitive technology could be transferred to its Chinese parent company, Wingtech. Nexperia produces semiconductors widely used in automotive and consumer electronics industries.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the intervention responds to “administrative shortcomings” within the firm and gives authorities temporary powers to reverse or block decisions deemed potentially harmful to national security, while allowing normal production to continue.
Nexperia said in a statement that it complies fully with all relevant laws, export controls, and sanctions regimes.
The ministry described the move, taken under emergency legislation designed to safeguard the supply of critical goods, as “highly exceptional”, adding that the decision could face a court appeal.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
Reminder, US stock markets are open on Monday (bonds closed) despite the holiday
As I said earlier,
it’s a big holiday Monday coming up:
- Japan is out
- Canada is out
- USA is partially out
- its a regular business day for US stock markets, while US bond markets will close
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
6.30am in Beijing. Traders might exercise caution, await China’s response to Trump’s cave
Trump has rapidly caved in on his threats to China. Stocks (US equity index futures that is) have surged:
There is probably good reason to exercise some caution here. By suggesting that Xi had a “bad moment”, ie implying he made an error , Trump may have made it more difficult for Beijing to step back or de-escalate, assuming it was even inclined to do so.
Background to all this ICYMI:
Friday ICYMI:
Late Friday:
China responds over the weekend:
Some TACO moves already, some murmurings of Trump already backing off. BRB with more on this:
Latest:
- Pentagon to buy $1bn in critical minerals to cut China reliance
- Trump says he thinks we are going to be fine with China, Nov 1 tariffs still the plan
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
US stocks surge higher at reopening of the week – loving the rapid Trump cave in on China
Globex has opened with a huge gap jump higher from Friday’s late levels.
As it happened:
From Friday ICYMI:
From late Friday:
China responds over the weekend:
Some TACO moves already, some murmurings of Trump already backing off. BRB with more on this:
Latest:
- Pentagon to buy $1bn in critical minerals to cut China reliance
- Trump says he thinks we are going to be fine with China, Nov 1 tariffs still the plan
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
-
Permanent migration to New Zealand plunged lower in August
New Zealand Permanent/Long-Term Migration in August: 460
- Previous: 1,770
Quite the slow down ….
More, this direct from Stats NZ.
Provisional estimates for the August 2025 year compared with the August 2024 year were:
- migrant arrivals: 138,600 (± 1,200), down 16 percent
- migrant departures: 127,900 (± 1,100), up 13 percent
- annual net migration: gain of 10,600 (± 1,500), compared with a gain of 51,600 (± 200).
Annual migrant arrivals peaked at 234,800 in the year ended October 2023.
Annual migrant departures provisionally peaked at 128,000 in the year ended July 2025.
Annual net migration peaked in the year ended October 2023, with a gain of 135,500.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.
End of content
End of content