Tag: us

The White House is increasing pressure on the Iranian regime as uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz impacts inflation across Asia.

April's US inflation reading was the highest since May 2023. The Philippines has also been hit with inflation of 7.2% in April as the result of the high oil price as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

The US market will be key to sustain the export-driven growth story observed in Asia, according to economists, however, a Hong Kong-based CFO has concerns about issues in the private credit market.

Speaking at the recent APEC conference in South Korea, Citi’s global chief executive officer Jane Fraser, is bullish on further trade ties between the US and Asia, despite tariff uncertainty.

The US Federal Reserve has decided to cut interest rates by 0.25% in a meeting this week after the US created only 22,000 jobs in August, well below trend.

Agreements to import more goods from the US rather than from the Middle East or other Asian nations could heighten inflation risks; however Bangladesh's apparel sector should benefit.

Tariffs ‘reduced’ to 15% for Japan and 19% for the Philippines, following a deal with Indonesia earlier in the week.

The US is expected to impose 19% tariffs on Indonesian goods; meanwhile, Trump's wider tariff regime is starting to have a more pronounced impact on US inflation.

The US attack on Iran's nuclear sites is an escalation with an uncertain outcome; meanwhile Israel and Iran continue to trade blows, as Trump touts a ceasefire.

The weekend agreement to reduce tariffs to 10% in China and 30% in the US is good news for companies, markets, and the US dollar; however it excludes the de minimis clause.

China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan and Indonesia to be hit particularly hard by US tariffs on imports announced on April 2; many fear the move could spark a global trade war.

The window left for negotiation remains key for the market to understand the impact of tariff policies, according to experts speaking at HSBC’s summit in Hong Kong this week; overnight the White House has announced 25% tariffs on cars from April 3 and car parts from May 3.