Global markets brace for a turbulent week as US-China tensions flare up again. President Trump’s renewed tariff threats and claims that China violated a trade pact have unsettled investors. Attention now shifts to the US non-farm payrolls, expected to show the slowest hiring in three months, and ISM PMI reports which may confirm a continued manufacturing slowdown. Several Fed officials are also set to speak, potentially offering clues on future rate moves.
In Europe, the European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points as inflation cools toward its 2% target. Investors will also monitor key releases including German industrial production, Eurozone retail sales, and unemployment data. The market reaction will hinge on how aggressively the ECB signals future easing.
Across Asia and the Pacific, China’s PMI readings may point to continued manufacturing weakness but steady services growth. In India, the Reserve Bank is likely to cut rates again amid low inflation. South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines will release inflation and trade figures, while Australia’s GDP is forecast to show solid Q1 growth, providing some optimism despite global trade uncertainty.