Hyundai Motor Co. $HYMTF, South Korea’s leading automaker, is set to raise retail prices for its entire range of vehicles in the United States. This strategic maneuver comes as the company seeks to cushion the financial strain from newly imposed tariffs by the US administration. According to sources familiar with internal deliberations, Hyundai aims to increase the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) by approximately 1% for every model, a change expected to take effect next week. Notably, this adjustment will impact only new units entering the US market, with existing dealer inventory remaining unaffected.
In a pivotal move likely to reverberate across global supply chains and equity markets, the United States announced a significant adjustment in its trade policy with China. According to a White House directive issued Monday, the minimum tariff rate on Chinese imports will be reduced to 54%, down from the previous rate of 120%. Furthermore, a flat fee of $100 will be imposed starting May 14. This policy shift is poised to impact a range of industries—particularly those heavily dependent on imports from Asia—and could influence corporate margins, inflationary pressures, and broader market sentiment.
As the global economy faces heightened uncertainty, the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills brought together influential leaders from Wall Street and the investment community. Despite the upbeat atmosphere, the discussion highlighted growing concerns over the slowdown in economic growth, driven largely by President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
Recent earnings reports from leading American technology companies have brought a sense of relief, despite the uncertainties introduced by new tariffs and the trade policies of the Trump administration. While concerns loom over potential downturns, the prevailing demand for technology and cloud services demonstrates the resilience of the sector.
Facing escalating trade tensions and looming tariffs under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policy trajectory, pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. $MRK has announced a $1 billion investment in a new biomanufacturing facility in Delaware. The plant will play a pivotal role in reinforcing the company’s domestic production capacity, particularly for its flagship oncology treatment, Keytruda.
Saks Global Enterprises, known for its high level of service and exclusive brands, recently announced its intention to increase its debt as part of efforts to strengthen its financial position. This decision marks an important step for the company amid economic instability, primarily due to changes in U.S. trade policies.
In the context of escalating trade tensions between the US and Europe, German automotive giant Volkswagen AG $VWAGY is considering strategic moves aimed at minimizing potential losses due to tariff measures initiated by former President Donald Trump. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, CEO Oliver Blume shared insights about plans to localize production of certain Audi models within the US.
Bitdeer Technologies Group $BTDR, listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange, has announced plans to increase its self-mining operations. This initiative comes against the backdrop of a cooling cryptocurrency market and growing uncertainties regarding U.S. trade policies.
On Monday, the Japanese stock market showed positive momentum, driven by recent changes in U.S. trade policy. The exclusion of smartphones and other electronics from the list of goods subject to high tariffs provided a boost to the stocks of companies involved in the production of devices like the iPhone. This event has emerged as a crucial factor influencing the upward movement of key Japanese indices, including the Nikkei and Topix.
In the realm of semiconductor development and production, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) stands as a beacon of global leadership. Renowned for its cutting-edge technology, TSMC is pushing the boundaries of chip production geared towards artificial intelligence integration. Expectations are high, with its net profit for the first quarter projected to rise by 54%, reaching TWD 347.8 billion (approximately USD 10.74 billion).
British automaker Jaguar Land Rover has decided to suspend its exports of vehicles to the United States. This decision comes in response to the new tariffs imposed by the government of Donald Trump, highlighting the global repercussions associated with changes in trade policy.
Apple is facing new challenges amid U.S. trade policy developments. According to an analysis by Morgan Stanley, the likelihood of the company receiving a targeted tariff exemption is only 20%. The reason lies in a changed regulatory framework: unlike in 2018, the latest round of tariffs is being implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which does not provide a mechanism for exemption requests.
