Overview

• Asian stock markets saw widespread declines, with Japan's Nikkei 225 dropping 2.1% and Australia's ASX 200 falling 1.8%, following a turbulent session on Wall Street.
• President Trump delayed the implementation of 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods until April 2, creating temporary relief for automakers but leaving broader trade policies uncertain.
• Bitcoin experienced a 5.7% drop after Trump's executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, though no public purchases of the cryptocurrency are planned.
• China reported weaker-than-expected trade data for January-February, with exports growing only 2.3% and imports contracting by 8.4%, raising concerns about global economic stability.
• Investors await February's U.S. jobs report, with economists predicting an acceleration in hiring, as labor market strength remains critical to sustaining consumer spending and economic growth.