Foreign automakers have cautioned that affordable vehicle models could disappear from the US market if the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is not renewed or revised favorably. Trade Policy Uncertainty Clouds Auto Sector Outlook Industry players have raised concerns to the administration of Donald Trump that without a stable trade framework: Producing low-cost vehicles may become uneconomical Supply chains across North America could be disrupted The USMCA, which currently allows tariff-free automotive trade , is under review, with negotiations facing delays amid rising tensions. Tariffs Threaten Cost Structure The situation has been exacerbated by 25% tariffs on auto imports from Mexico and Canada imposed last year. These tariffs have: Increased production costs Pressured margins for automakers Made entry-level vehicles less viable in the US market Without relief, manufacturers may scale back or ...
Market Snapshot STI: 4,904.33 (+0.24%) Volume / Value: 110.57M / S$109.45M Advancers / Decliners: 103 / 55 Wall Street Mixed Ahead of Fed Decision US markets showed a mixed performance as investors stayed cautious before the upcoming Federal Reserve decision. Nasdaq Composite Index : +0.2% (record high) S&P 500 Index : +0.1% (record high) Dow Jones Industrial Average : -0.1% Key point: Markets are in a wait-and-see mode , focusing on Fed signals and inflation risks from rising oil prices. AI-related stocks continued to lead gains: Intel +3% SanDisk +8.1% Micron Technology +5.6% Taiwan Semiconductor +0.6% Singapore Manufacturing Beats Expectations Singapore’s factory sector delivered a strong surprise: March output: +10.1% YoY (vs forecast) MoM growth: +4.7% Q1 growth: 7.9% YoY (above 5% estimate) Excluding biomedical: +13.5% YoY growth Key point: Manufacturing rebound is driven by strong electronics dema...