KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed lower on Friday amid mixed regional market performance as investors turned cautious over a possible rate hike by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) and upcoming US economic data that may influence the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rate decision next week. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) pared most earlier losses to settle 4.55 points easier, or 0.28 per cent, to 1,616.52 from Thursday’s close of 1,621.07. The benchmark index, which opened 0.37 of-a-point lower at 1,620.70, moved between 1,609.67 and 1,621.25 throughout the day. The broader market was negative, with decliners outpacing advancers 604 to 439. A total of 550 counters were unchanged, 1,151 untraded, and 18 suspended. Turnover declined to 3.17 billion units worth RM2.24 billion from 4.48 billion units worth RM2.75 billion yesterday. Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-presiden...
Tariffs Moving Forward Despite Trade Concerns
- Trump reiterated that tariffs on Canada & Mexico are "on time and going forward", emphasizing that past U.S. leadership allowed unfair trade deals.
- The new tariffs include:
- 25% tax on all imports from Canada & Mexico.
- 10% tax on Canadian energy imports.
- March 4 is the scheduled start date after a 30-day delay for security negotiations.
Trump’s Justification for the Tariffs
- Claims U.S. has been "mistreated" in trade and that past leaders signed bad agreements.
- Blames American leadership for allowing other countries to gain advantages in trade deals.
- Suggests that previous administrations failed to protect U.S. manufacturing and economic interests.
Market & Economic Reactions
- Tariff fears have already pressured the U.S. stock market, with concerns that trade wars could reignite inflation.
- Businesses worry about supply chain disruptions, especially in industries reliant on Canadian & Mexican imports.
- Investors are watching closely for potential retaliation from Canada & Mexico.
Summary:
- Trump confirms that tariffs on Canada & Mexico will take effect on March 4.
- He blames past U.S. leaders for unfair trade deals, not other countries.
- Markets remain uneasy about potential economic fallout.
Comments
Post a Comment