Stock exchanges from Frankfurt to Tokyo have continued their downward spiral for a third straight day, with Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 plunging more than four percent and Japan’s Nikkei not far behind. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost double digits this week, while South Korean and Taiwanese indexes also crumbled under the weight of growing recession fears. Across the board, global traders are rushing to safer assets like government bonds, gold, and historically stable currencies.
A sharp drop in oil prices has amplified the prevailing sense of caution. Weakening demand forecasts, combined with ongoing supply chain strains, have made it more difficult for energy markets to shrug off negative economic signals. Some analysts warn that lingering consumer jitters and corporate cost pressures could further erode growth in key sectors such as tech, retail, and manufacturing.
Amid these market shocks, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his latest round of import tariffs, fueling worries about retaliatory steps from major trading partners. Yet experts say those levies are only one factor in a broader picture of tightening monetary policy, stubborn inflation, and cooling global demand. Investors worldwide are closely watching economic data in the weeks ahead, hoping for signs that the downward spiral may soon stabilize.
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