Stock Markets Fluctuate on Trump’s Inflation Policy Concerns

AFP/APP

London: Global stock markets showed mixed performances on Wednesday, driven by concerns over the impact of Donald Trump’s policies on the Chinese and global economies.

Fears are mounting that his proposed tax cuts, import tariffs, and deregulation may accelerate US inflation.

With the US dollar rallying after Trump’s election, investors are closely watching October’s consumer price data for inflation clues. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, noted, “If prices appear volatile, expectations may build for Trump to moderate his tariff stance.”

European indices edged higher, with Siemens Energy stocks surging over 15% on strong annual results.

However, Asian markets mostly closed lower amid concerns of a US-China trade conflict. Trump’s appointment of known China hawks has stoked fears that tariff rates on US imports from China could rise sharply, sparking potential retaliatory measures from Beijing.

Key indices at 1100 GMT include:

London FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 8,062.73

Paris CAC 40: UP 0.3% at 7,248.33

Frankfurt DAX: UP 0.3% at 19,096.11

Tokyo Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.7% at 38,721.66 (close)

Investors remain watchful of Wall Street’s upcoming sessions, as economic policies and inflation data continue to shape global market trends.