Tech Stocks Surge, Nvidia's Q1 Guidance Soars; Crypto Rebounds, Circle Jumps 35%

U.S. Trade Representative: Global Import Tariffs May Reach 15%

The U.S. Trade Representative announced that the global import tariff rate imposed on certain countries could rise from the recently implemented 10% to 15% or higher. This follows a Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous tariff measures lacked legal authorization, prompting Trump to change the legal basis for continuing the tariffs.

Impact on EU Exports

The European Union estimates that approximately €4.2 billion worth of goods will face tariffs exceeding the agreed 15% limit in the EU-U.S. trade agreement. This includes dairy products, certain agricultural goods, and various plastics and textiles. EU officials have expressed concerns, stating that around 7% of EU exports will exceed the maximum tariff limit.

New York Fed: Declining Appeal of Government Bonds

Research from the New York Federal Reserve indicates that a key global interest rate is rising, primarily due to the declining appeal of government bonds in terms of safety and liquidity. This shift is attributed to the surge in government debt in developed economies.

Fed Officials on Inflation and Independence

Inflation Concerns

Fed official Schmid stated that high inflation remains a critical issue, although he did not specify how monetary policy should respond. He acknowledged that there is still work to be done regarding inflation, despite a relatively strong job market.

Erosion of Fed Independence

Atlanta Fed President Bostic warned that the rift between the Fed and the White House is eroding public trust in the central bank's independence. He emphasized the need for the Fed to remain politically neutral, as recent legal and rhetorical confrontations have raised doubts about its autonomy.

Tech Giants Commit to Self-Sustaining Power Supply

Tech executives are set to meet with Trump to pledge that major companies will build their own power supplies for new data centers, avoiding additional costs for taxpayers. Companies involved include Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Iran-U.S. Indirect Negotiations

Iran's Foreign Minister arrived in Geneva for the third round of indirect negotiations with the U.S. Vice President Vance expressed hope for the talks, reiterating that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons.

Saudi Oil Exports Surge Amid Tensions

Saudi Arabia's oil exports are expected to reach a three-year high, with daily exports rising to 7.3 million barrels. This increase comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

U.S. Stock Market Performance

The U.S. stock market saw gains, with the S&P 500 rising 0.81% and the Nasdaq up 1.26%. Major tech stocks like Microsoft and Nvidia performed well, while cryptocurrency prices surged, with Bitcoin reaching $70,000.

Hong Kong IPO Market Booms

The Hong Kong IPO market has seen explosive growth in 2026, with over 20 companies completing IPOs, raising a total of HK$892.26 billion, a significant increase from the previous year.

Ctrip Group Reports Strong Earnings

Ctrip Group reported a net profit of RMB 33.29 billion for 2025, a 95.08% increase year-on-year, with total revenue rising to RMB 62.4 billion.

Conclusion

The financial landscape is shifting with rising tariffs, changing interest rates, and a booming IPO market, reflecting broader economic trends and geopolitical tensions.