BREAKING NEWS: Global Markets in Freefall After Trump’s Tariff Blitz; Japan Halts Trading, U.S. Futures Plunge
April 6, 2025 — FAFO Newscast
Global markets are spiraling after former President Donald Trump announced sweeping 24% tariffs on major U.S. trade partners—including Japan, China, Germany, and Canada—triggering a financial shockwave overnight.
Japan’s Stock Market Hit the Panic Button
Within hours of the announcement, Japan’s Nikkei 225 plummeted over 7%, and Topix futures took such a steep dive that Tokyo’s stock exchange triggered circuit breakers, automatically halting futures trading to contain the chaos. Circuit breakers are rare and only used during severe market disruptions.
U.S. Markets Brace for Impact
The shock didn’t stop in Asia. As of Sunday night, U.S. stock futures cratered:
• S&P 500 futures fell more than 4%
• Nasdaq futures dropped nearly 5%
• Dow Jones futures plunged over 1,000 points
Investors are bracing for what some analysts, including CNBC’s Jim Cramer, are calling a possible “Black Monday.”
The S&P 500 alone has lost over 10% in just two days, wiping out more than $5 trillion in market value—and markets haven’t even officially opened yet this week.
Why It Matters
Trump’s tariff blitz is being viewed globally as economic brinkmanship. Japan’s export-driven economy is especially vulnerable, and the trade shock is expected to ripple into U.S. sectors reliant on foreign goods—from tech and automotive to agriculture.
Market confidence is now rattled. A full-blown trade war could be on the horizon.
What to Watch For
• Potential retaliation from impacted nations
• Market volatility as U.S. exchanges open Monday
• Possible emergency action from the Federal Reserve
More to come as this story develops. Stay tuned.
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