Overview
- President Trump announced that U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, previously as high as 145%, will be reduced substantially, though not eliminated entirely.
- Global equity markets rallied, with U.S., Asia-Pacific, and European indices posting significant gains following Trump's remarks on trade and the Federal Reserve.
- Trump stated he has 'no intention' of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, reassuring investors about the central bank's independence.
- Gold prices, which had recently hit record highs, fell as investor sentiment improved, while oil prices rose above $68 a barrel on hopes of reduced economic strain.
- European markets opened strongly, with major indices like Germany's DAX and the UK's FTSE 100 climbing significantly, reflecting renewed confidence in economic stability.