Currencies

BENGALURU: Equities in Vietnam and Thailand plunged even further on Friday as investors fled from risky assets, after US President Donald Trump’s unexpectedly severe tariffs fuelled fears of a global recession. Thailand’s benchmark stock index slumped 2.8% to its lowest level in more than five years, bringing its year-to-date losses to about 19.4%. Vietnam stocks tanked as much as 5.8% to their lowest level in 15 months, extending their slide after Thursday’s near 7% drop. The selling in Vietnamese shares was fairly uniform across-the-board, indicating that investors would need more...

Underlining that BIMSTEC is a model for inclusive development and collective security and not merely a regional organisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced more than 20 initiatives — from the mechanism of Home Ministers on security to UPI connecting payment mechanisms, an energy centre to a chamber of commerce.Speaking at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Modi said, “BIMSTEC serves as a vital bridge between South and Southeast Asia, and is emerging as a powerful platform for advancing regional connectivity, cooperation and shared prosperity.” “It is a matter of great...

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on dozens of foreign trading partners have unleashed a rapid response abroad, as Europeans leaders urged negotiations while pondering retaliatory measures Thursday. Trump spoke of such negotiation requests in his Wednesday speech as he previewed the tariffs, saying, “To all of the foreign presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and everyone else who will soon be calling to ask for exemptions from these tariffs I say: Terminate your own tariffs, drop your barriers, don’t manipulate your currencies.” Donald Trump's message to Keir Starmer,"To all of...

Sizing up what President Trump’s new tariffs mean for India was a puzzle from the start for even the country’s top trade economists. Its politicians, too, were stunned.Starting next week, nearly all Indian goods arriving in the United States will be taxed an extra 27 percent.The figure was bafflingly high, in part because the government’s ministers had been flocking to Washington since Mr. Trump won re-election. From the Rose Garden, Mr. Trump addressed India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, in absentia while delivering the disappointing news, calling him “a great friend...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — The ringgit ended the week on a firmer footing against the US dollar amidst uncertainties over the reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States (US) administration, said an analyst. At 6 pm, the ringgit traded higher at 4.4335/4400 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 4.4400/4460.Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said that while the tariff rate was steep at 24 per cent, room for negotiation is widely open.“Hence, hope for Malaysia and other countries to get a better deal...

Emerging markets are under pressure as U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs—some reaching 50%—push levies to century-high levels, sparking fears of a global trade war and worsening credit outlooks. The move hits Asia and the world’s poorest economies hardest, threatening capital flows and development. The sweeping tariffs impact a wide range of exports, from Madagascar’s vanilla (47%) to Sri Lanka’s textiles (44%). Six Southeast Asian nations face levies between 32% and 49%, heavily affecting “Factory Asia.” U.S. banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have responded by downgrading emerging market currencies...

The United States has revised downwards the import duties imposed on India, reducing them from 27  per cent to 26 per cent, according to a White House document. These new tariffs will come into effect from April 9. While announcing the reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, President Donald Trump presented a chart displaying the tariff rates that countries such as India, China, the UK, and the European Union will now have to pay. According to the chart, India previously imposed a 52 per cent tariff (factoring in currency manipulation and trade...

The United States has revised downwards the import duties to be imposed on India from 27 per cent to 26 per cent, according to a White House document. These duties will come into force from April 9. While announcing the reciprocal tariffs against different countries on Wednesday, he held up a chart that showed the tariffs that countries such as India, China, the UK, and the European Union will now have to pay. The chart indicated that India charged 52 per cent tariffs, including currency manipulation and trade barriers, and...

New Delhi: The United States has revised downwards the import duties to be imposed on India from 27% to 26%, according to a White House document. These duties will come into force from April 9. While announcing the reciprocal tariffs against different countries on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump held up a chart that showed the tariffs that countries such as India, China, the UK, and the European Union will now have to pay. The chart indicated that India charged 52% tariffs, including currency manipulation and trade barriers, and America...

The Indian rupee witnessed sharp gains on Friday at below 85 against dollar, as the dollar index and oil prices dropped sharply amid concerns over recession in the US economy after the reciprocal tariffs were announced.It is for the first time since December 2024 when rupee traded below 85 against dollar. At the beginning of the trading session, the rupee opened at 85.04 and in the early trade, it stood at 84.99, almost 40 paise up from the previous close of 85.44. The reason for the rise in rupee against...