Francisco Bruno Moreira Bras Gomes
📆 March 2025 Monthly Market Summary: Tariffs, Inflation & Sentiment Shake Global Confidence U.S. Markets: March ended on a sour note for U.S. equities as inflationary signals, weakening consumer confidence, and aggressive trade policies drove volatility. The $NSDQ100 tumbled over 10% for the month, while the $SPX500 slid 5.1% and the $DJ30 lost 2.3%. Markets initially attempted a rebound early in the month, buoyed by hopes of softer trade stances. However, President Trump’s announcement of broad 25% auto tariffs mid-month rattled confidence, especially in tech and manufacturing-heavy indexes. The core PCE index rose to 2.8% YoY, reinforcing fears that inflation remains sticky. Consumer sentiment hit a 12-year low, with both the Conference Board and University of Michigan surveys showing sharp declines. Investors are now pricing in potential economic stagnation, with many fearing that restrictive policy and slowing demand could trigger a recession. Europe: The STOXX Europe 600 slipped 1.4% in March, dragged down by trade tensions and recessionary fears. While German business sentiment improved, and eurozone manufacturing returned to growth, the specter of U.S. tariffs on European autos clouded the outlook. In the UK, the Spring Statement revealed downgraded 2025 growth forecasts and confirmed more austerity measures, though a small dip in inflation kept hopes for a May rate cut alive. Asia: Japanese equities dropped, hurt by export concerns tied to U.S. tariffs and yen fluctuations. The BoJ signaled potential rate hikes, but inflation remains the key driver, especially with food prices accelerating. In China, growth signals were mixed—industrial profits shrank, and policymakers emphasized boosting domestic consumption as a long-term goal. The market stayed relatively flat, with the CSI 300 barely changed. Emerging Markets: Mexico was a focal point for U.S. trade pressure, as Trump’s tariff orders extended to Mexican auto exports. The Czech National Bank held rates steady, citing inflation risks and external uncertainties stemming from the EU and Germany. Crypto Markets: In the cryptocurrency market, $BTC price declined by 1.4% to $82,199 amid fears of an escalating trade war due to the new tariffs. Other cryptocurrencies, such as $XRP also experienced decreases, with XRP dropping by 3.7% to $2.08 over the past 24 hours. These movements indicate that, despite often being considered "digital gold," cryptocurrencies traded more like risky assets during the market uncertainty caused by the tariff policies.
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