Options traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of a volatile week. AP
Options traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of a volatile week. AP
Options traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of a volatile week. AP
Options traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of a volatile week. AP

Trump's tariff flip-flopping is a dizzying time for investors and economies


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Global stock markets have lost trillions of dollars in value, hammered in a tumultuous week of intense pressure on US Treasuries and the dollar amid the disruption driven by the sweeping tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump worldwide.

Investors cashed out risky equity holdings and shunned US assets, including government bonds, as both Washington and Beijing increased the tariff rhetoric – which on Friday escalated after Beijing announced it will raise levies on US goods to 125 per cent, effective on Saturday.

The relief rally on Wednesday, after Mr Trump made an about-face on some of his tariffs by announcing a 90-day pause, did not last beyond a day.

The “sell everything US related” narrative is “alive and kicking” in markets, Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at global financial services firm Ebury, said. In past periods of market stress or panic, US assets have done well, given that they are viewed as “just about the safest investments around”.

However, “this has turned on its head since last week, with market participants appearing to completely lose confidence in America’s standing as the pillar of exceptionalism”, he said.

“It's incredibly tough to gauge whether or not the dollar is at or near a bottom, as we simply don’t know what Trump’s next move on tariffs will be.”

The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, was down on Friday, dropping about 1 per cent to a six-month low on investor concerns that the trade war was diminishing its value.

The tumult in the stocks market has resulted in equities losing more than $10 trillion in value, according to Bloomberg estimates, with $6 trillion alone wiped off Wall Street on Thursday and Friday last week. The former is more than the combined gross domestic products of Germany and Japan, the world's third and fourth largest economies, respectively, based on figures from Worldometers.

“That’s the cost of deglobalisation – and investors are not comfortable about it. Recession odds are rising, inflation expectations, too. Sentiment is fragile and will remain so until a clear resolution of the tariff puzzle,” Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, told The National.

Markets digesting China's fightback

Despite rising recession fears, US stocks mounted a rally on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 619 points – or 1.56 per cent – higher while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose 1.81 and 2.06 per cent, respectively.

The moves came after Mr Trump said he is “optimistic” China and the US would negotiate a deal on tariffs. His comments followed a decision from Beijing to raise tariffs on US goods from 84 per cent to 125 per cent beginning on Saturday.

But even before the latest escalation from Beijing, the “gloves are off” between the world's two biggest economies, as they are “no longer shadowboxing – they are now locked in a full-scale trade war”, said Nigel Green, chief executive of Dubai-based financial services firm deVere Group.

“The escalation is sharp and unmistakable … for investors, this likely marks the start of a period of profound volatility, profound opportunity and profound risk. When the world’s two largest economies go head-to-head, there are no easy winners – only shifting damage,” he added.

In Asian stock markets, which closed before Beijing made its tariff announcement, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index settled 1.13 per cent higher, while the Shanghai Composite in mainland China added 0.45 per cent, on hopes of a stimulus package from Beijing to off-set the impact of increased levies from the US. India's Sensex gained 1.76 per cent.

Japan's Nikkei 225 gave up nearly 3 per cent at the close, a couple of day after soaring more than 9 per cent, as concerns over the US-China trade war seeped in again. South Korea's Kospi and Australia's ASX 200 retreated 0.5 per cent and 0.82 per cent, respectively.

In Europe, London's FTSE was up 0.63 per cent, swinging between gains and losses. Frankfurt's DAX and the CAC 40 in Paris were down 0.92 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively.

In the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange settled about 0.1 per cent higher, while the Dubai Financial Market closed down 0.16 per cent. Saudi Arabia's Tadawul is closed on Fridays, along with bourses in Doha and Kuwait.

Bond market chaos

Despite the wild week for the major US indexes, it was the bond market that caught Mr Trump's attention.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose more than 50 basis points this week, after ending last week around 4 per cent. It rose to 4.49 per cent on Friday.

They were on tack for their largest weekly increase in more than four decades.

“People were getting a little queasy,” Mr Trump said of the bond market after issuing his tariff reversal.

The yield on the 30-year bond rose 4.972 per cent after touching 5.023 per cent on Wednesday.

Global investors typically turn to government debt during times of market volatility, although the recent sell-off has raised questions on whether the 10-year Treasury is a safe haven.

Jay Menozzi, chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager at Easterly Orange, said foreign ownership of Treasuries is another factor involved.

“It's a consequence of us running a trade deficit and a capital surplus that just literally says that foreign countries have to own US assets, capital assets, and they tend to own long-dated Treasuries,” he said.

“You might think safe haven, but I also think that fundamentally the net result of all this could be less demand for long-dated treasuries. Even though that hasn't happened yet, you've always got speculative investors that … see that coming, and so they want to jump in front of it.”

Speaking on CNBC's Squawk Box on Friday, Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari said investors could be turning away from the US, noting that the dollar has also weakened.

“Normally when you see big tariff increases, I would have expected the dollar to go up. The fact that the dollar is going down at the same time, I think, lends some more credibility to the story of investor preferences shifting,” he said.

Mr Kashkari added he has not yet seen a major dislocation in markets, and that the Fed should intervene in markets only in a true emergency.

Gold tops $3,200

In commodities, oil prices were oscillating and were last up, although they marked a second weekly decline on tariff concerns.

Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, settled at $64.76 a barrel, up 2.26 per cent. West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, finished at $61.50 a barrel, up 2.38 per cent.

Gold, meanwhile, hit a record on Friday as it topped $3,200, reflecting investors flocking to the commodity widely viewed as a safe-haven asset.

The precious metal, which has been on a steady rising streak in recent months, was at nearly $3,230 an ounce on Friday. Gold had pipped the $3,000 mark for the first time in March.

The precious metal has now risen by nearly 20 per cent since the January inauguration of Mr Trump and about 23 per cent year-to-date. It passed the $2,000 and $2,500 levels in May 2023 and August 2024, respectively.

Tariff fears and a strong euro are driving gold, according to the World Gold Council.

“Fiscal and monetary support may be receding, and the timing isn’t great for risk assets given current turmoil. Fundamentals remain solid for gold,” the London-based body said.

Cryptocurrencies take the cue

Cryptocurrencies, meanwhile, took a similar path with markets, rising after the tariffs pause.

Bitcoin, the world's first and biggest cryptocurrency, slipped to the $74,600 level on Wednesday, before Mr Trump made his announcement.

It has since surged by more than 10 per cent and was above $82,590 on Friday. Ethereum, the second largest, has also risen by a similar percentage.

The crypto market, noted for its volatility, has held up relatively well after last week's tariffs announcement, even if it has experienced steep declines during periods of uncertainty, said Simon Peters, a market analyst at trading platform eToro.

“Seasoned crypto investors see this as an opportunity to increase their holdings … if the dust begins to settle around US tariffs and financial conditions start to loosen … we could be setting the stage for a renewed rally and potentially new all-time highs,” he said.

Company%20profile
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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989

Director: Goran Hugo Olsson

Rating: 5/5

Company%20profile
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UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Europe’s rearming plan
  • Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
  • Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
  • Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
  • Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
  • Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

Series result

1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets

2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets

3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets

4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets

5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E930Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh749%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Panamera
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.9-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E353hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E500Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh408%2C200%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months

Company Profile

Company name: Yeepeey

Started: Soft launch in November, 2020

Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani

Based: Dubai

Industry: E-grocery

Initial investment: $150,000

Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Price, base: Dh708,750

Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 374hp (total)

Torque: 570Nm (total)

Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV

Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation. 

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.

Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The%20Crown%20season%205
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImelda%20Staunton%2C%20Jonathan%20Pryce%2C%20Lesley%20Manville%2C%20Jonny%20Lee%20Miller%2C%20Dominic%20West%2C%20Elizabeth%20Debicki%2C%20Salim%20Daw%20and%20Khalid%20Abdalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWritten%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPeter%20Morgan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%20stars%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company

The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.

He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.

“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.

“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.

HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon. 

With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.

Updated: April 12, 2025, 4:19 AM`