Bitcoin Flat as White House Pushes Mixed Messages on Technology Tariffs
BTC is trading above $84K, while major stock indices in China are up.
BTC is trading above $84K, while major stock indices in China are up.
French startup Dift helps companies reward their clients and employees with donations that support social and environmental causes of their choice.
Asian markets rallied on Monday as tensions over trade eased slightly after U.S. President Donald Trump said electronics such as phones and laptops would not be subject to the same high import duties as some other products. Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 2.4% to 21,419.59, while the Shanghai Composite index picked up 0.9% to 3,266.26 after the government reported that China's exports surged 12.4% in March from a year earlier. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was exempting smartphones, computers and other electronics from his tariffs after China announced Friday that it was boosting its tariffs on U.S. products to 125% in the latest tit-for-tat increase following Trump’s escalations on imports from China.
TAIPEI/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Shares in Asian tech companies that are major suppliers to companies like Apple rose on Monday after the U.S. government granted temporary exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronics imported largely from China. Shares in Foxconn, Apple's largest iPhone assembler, rose as much as 7.8% before trimming gains to close 3% higher. China's Goertek and Lens Tech both rose by more than 7% before also trimming gains.
The bank expects Brent and WTI oil prices to edge down, averaging $63 and $59 a barrel, respectively, for the remainder of 2025, and $58 and $55 in 2026. Given the weak growth outlook amid a global trade war, the bank expects that oil demand will rise by only 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) between the end of last year and the end of 2025. The bank has cut its global demand growth forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2026 by 900,000 barrels-per-day since mid-March due to an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 115 points, or 0.28%, while S&P 500 futures were up 0.68%, and Nasdaq futures jumped 1.11%.
Bitcoin supporters have long raised concerns about the accuracy of U.S. economic data, and recent events seem to validate their position.
The U.S. Federal Reserve, represented by Boston Fed President Susan Collins, has stated it is prepared to intervene in financial markets if necessary.
Bitcoin is still expected to hit $1.8 million by 2035, despite recent price drops and reduced investor interest driven by global trade tensions.
Oil prices held steady on Monday as exemptions for some electronics goods from U.S. tariffs and data showing a sharp rebound in China's crude imports in March, were outweighed by concerns that the trade war could weaken global economic growth and dent fuel demand. Brent crude futures were flat at $64.76 at 11:19 a.m. ET (1519 GMT). "The OPEC cutting its global demand forecast just underscores the troubled outlook we have here from the tariffs and all the other uncertainty in the market," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital, referring to OPEC revising down its demand forecast in a report released on Monday.