Tokyo (AWP/AFP) – Asian scholarships have evolved in dispersed order on Monday, suspended from threats of US customs surcharge on the EU and speculation about Washington’s real desire to apply them, a climate of uncertainty that did not prevent Bitcoin from flying to a new record.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Nikkei star index closed up 0.27% to 39,459.62 points and the enlarged Topix index ended in virtual (-0.02% to 2,822.81 points).
The Seoul Stock Exchange, on the other hand, won 0.83%; Sydney sold 0.11% and Taipei 0.60%. The Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased by 0.43% around 06:30 GMT.
Investors digest new threats from US President Donald Trump, who announced on Saturday the taxation on August 1 of 30% from surcharge for European Union and Mexico products imported into the United States.
The surcharge “will apply unless the EU offers better commercial conditions. This announcement could be part of Trump’s negotiation tactics, leaving a two -week opportunity window for possible additional talks”, underline the MUFG bank analysts.
But in any event, as the deadline of early August approaches, for the EU as for many Asian countries threatened with prohibitive customs surcharge, the feverishness of the markets exacerbates.
“Investors should not bet on the fact that Trump is content to bluff with the threat of rights of 30% (…) probably more detrimental to the EU than in the United States, the time is running out,” warns Brian Jacobsen, of Annex Wealth Management, quoted by Bloomberg.
In the immediate future, the market is watching for the publication of Chinese GDP for the second quarter, expected on Tuesday, as well as on Tuesday, inflation in the United States on Tuesday.
“It is possible that the scholarships (settle in) in a wait -and -see mode until the inflationary trends linked to the impact of customs duties are clarified” with the American indicator on Tuesday, estimates the broker Monex Securities.
Bitcoin crosses $ 120,000
Bitcoin evolves Monday above 120,000 dollars, unheard of, after having already stolen from record in record last week, boosted by an increasing demand for institutional investors which sees it as a source of diversification as the regulations on cryptocurial-active are tunted.
Around 06:30 GMT, the most capitalized of cryptocurrencies were exchanged at 122,421 dollars.
Yen volatile before the elections
The Japanese currency is experiencing very fluctuating exchanges in the face of a green tank under pressure due to uncertainties on American trade policy. It gave up 0.05% around 06:30 GMT, at 147.37 yen for a dollar.
“In the short term, political developments in Japan”, where the government majority of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses in difficulty the senatorial elections of July 20, “just as inflation in the United States will be key factors for Yen’s evolution”, note Nomura analysts.
In addition, according to them, the visit of the American Minister of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, in Japan at the end of the week “could advance negotiations on customs duties” between Tokyo and Washington, and will therefore be closely monitored by the Cambists.
For the time being, the dollar seems to resist trade tensions: “This reflects two dynamics-the hypothesis that Trump will relax the customs duties if the markets react too negatively is the subject of an increasing consensus and the idea that the surcharge will penalize more the trade partners of the United States than the United States themselves”, underline the analysts of Standard Charterd.
Gold break, motionless oil
Gold resumes its breath (+0.08% to 3.358 dollars perce) after having climbed strongly in recent days, playing its role of refuge value while Donald Trump multiplies new threats of customs duties.
Same immobility for the petroleum market: around 06:30 GMT, the barrel of American WTI only increased by a meager 0.10% to 68.53 dollars, and that of Brent from the North Sea appreciated from 0.11% to 70.45 dollars.
AFP/Al
