Market Highlights 💡 - 21 April 2025

Major markets closed for Good Friday; Asian markets broadly higher on dip-buying

🇺🇸 S&P 500 Index: Closed

🇺🇸 Nasdaq Index: Closed

🇪🇺 Stoxx 600 Index: Closed

🇯🇵 Nikkei 225 Index: +1.03% 📈

🇭🇰 Hang Seng Index: Closed

🇨🇳 CSI 300 Index: +0.01% 📈

🇸🇬 Straits Times Index: Closed

Asian equities ended mostly higher. The CSI 300 edged up by 0.01%, while the Nikkei 225 rose by 1.0%, boosted by optimism following positive developments in U.S.-Japan trade talks.

Japan's core inflation rose by 3.2% year-on-year in March, in line with market expectations, driven primarily by persistently high food prices. The data underscores the Bank of Japan's growing policy challenge of balancing inflation control with economic stability amid potential U.S. tariff hikes.

Upcoming Events:

Monday: Investors will be watching China's 1-year and 5-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) announcements.

Wednesday: Key data in focus includes Malaysia's inflation rate (monthly and yearly), Eurozone HCOB Manufacturing and Services PMI (preliminary), and U.S. Manufacturing and Services PMI (preliminary).

Thursday: The U.S. will release its latest initial jobless claims data.

Over the weekend: The University of Michigan's final consumer sentiment reading will be released.

What You Need to Know Today:

1. Indonesia has committed to increasing its imports from the U.S. to as much as $19 billion, part of broader efforts to avert potential tariffs from Washington.

Indonesia import

2. A Boeing $Boeing(BA)$   jet originally scheduled for delivery to a Chinese airline returned to its U.S. production facility on Sunday, becoming another casualty in the ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions.

Boeing

3. President Trump's economic approval rating has hit a new low, as tariffs, inflation, and fiscal spending spark public dissatisfaction. Economic optimism seen post-reelection is fading, with more Americans expecting a slowdown and showing diminished confidence in the stock market.

President Trump

4. U.S. Vice President JD Vance will begin a four-day visit to India on Monday, aiming to explore economic cooperation and advance bilateral trade agreement talks.

JD Vance

5. President Trump has once again publicly criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell, reflecting growing White House dissatisfaction with the Federal Reserve's leadership.

Trump VS Powell

Key Takeaway:

Investors face a busy week ahead, with focus on trade negotiations involving the U.S. and India, South Korea, and earnings reports from major tech firms like Tesla $Tesla Motors(TSLA)$  and Alphabet $Alphabet(GOOGL)$  .

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