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Page 17 - Stock Markets

Mideast stocks fall on US tariffs, low oil prices squeeze energy nations

Middle East stock markets tumbled Monday as they struggled with the dual hit of the United States' new tariff policy and a sharp decline in oil prices, squeezing energy-producing nations that rely on those sales to power their economies and government spending. Benchmark Brent crude is down by nearly 15% over the last five days of trading, with a barrel of oil costing just over $63. That's down nearly 30% from a year ago, when a barrel cost over $90. That cost per barrel is far lower than the estimated break-even price for Saudi Arabia and most other countries producing energy in the Middle East. That's coupled with the new tariffs, which saw the Gulf Cooperation Council states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates hit with 10% tariffs. Other Mideast nations face higher tariffs, like Iraq at 39% and Syria at 41%. With these measures and the expected retaliatory measures that could be adopted by other countries, the stability and predictability of

Updated On : 07 Apr 2025 | 1:51 PM IST

Asian stocks slid after Wall Street surrendered to hit by Trump's tariffs

Asian markets retreated Friday after Wall Street shuddered with a level of shock unseen since the COVID-19 impact tore on Trump's latest set of tariffs' damage on the world's economy. Futures for U.S. stocks and the oil prices declined. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 lost 2.6% to 33,818.18, and Korea's Kospi fell 0.8% to 2,467.14 after the two countries pivoted to negotiating lower tariffs with Trump's administration. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.9% to 7,713.60. Chinese markets were closed for a holiday. Trump announced a minimum tariff of 10% on imports, with the tax rate running much higher on products from certain countries like China and those from the European Union. It's plausible the tariffs altogether, which would rival levels unseen in roughly a century, could knock down US economic growth by 2 percentage points this year and raise inflation close to 5%, according to UBS. Such a hit would be so big that it makes one's rational mind regard the possibility of them sticking as low,