Insights

In April, financial markets were whiplashed by a flurry of headlines on the trade front. While “Liberation Day” was met with sweeping tariff announcements, the trade war between the United States and China escalated with tit-for-tat levies.

The first quarter ended on a softer note, with President Trump’s disruptive trade proposals and mounting stagflation fears driving investors out of risky assets.

Risk appetite deteriorated and financial markets were mainly in risk-off mode in February, with mounting risks of a trade war injecting some volatility into the marketplace and weighing on investor sentiment.

Financial markets began 2025 on a positive note following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in mid‑January – even despite his looming threats to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.