April 10, 2025, the world woke up to a dramatic shift in global risk sentiment, spurred by President Donald Trump’s unexpected announcement of a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for most countries, excluding China.
This move, paired with a jaw-dropping 125 per cent tariff hike on Chinese imports, has sent shockwaves through markets, igniting a rollercoaster of reactions that deserve a deep and thoughtful exploration. Let’s unpack this market wrap, weaving together the data, the human stakes, and my own take on what it all means.
The announcement came like a thunderclap after days of escalating tension, with both the US and China locked in a high-stakes game of economic brinkmanship. Just yesterday, tariffs on China jumped by another 50 per cent, pushing the total to an unprecedented 125 per cent. It’s a bold, almost theatrical escalation, signalling that Trump is doubling down on his hardline stance against Beijing.
Meanwhile, the 90-day pause on tariffs for other nations—a flat 10 per cent duty remains in place—offers a lifeline for negotiations, a chance to step back from the edge of a full-blown global trade war. The markets, ever sensitive to such twists, responded with a fervour that hadn’t been seen in years.
The S&P 500 surged 9.5 per cent, its largest single-day rally since October 2008, while the Nasdaq soared 12.1 per cent, marking its biggest daily gain in 24 years. The CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, often dubbed Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” plummeted 35.8 per cent to 33.62, a dramatic exhale after peaking at 52.33. It’s as if the markets collectively sighed in relief, at least for now.
What’s driving this euphoria? For one, the pause on universal tariffs has lifted a dark cloud of uncertainty that had been suffocating investor confidence. The prospect of reciprocal tariffs—matching duties imposed by other countries on US goods—had threatened to choke global trade, spike inflation, and drag economies into recession. Trump’s decision to hit the brakes, even temporarily, suggests a willingness to negotiate rather than bulldoze ahead, a pragmatic pivot that markets have seized upon.
But it’s not all rosy. The US-China trade war is intensifying, and with neither side showing signs of backing down, the stakes are higher than ever. The 125 per cent tariff on China is a gauntlet thrown down, a dare for Beijing to retaliate further or come to the table. It’s a risky play, and one that could backfire if China opts for escalation over compromise.
Turning to the bond market, US Treasury yields paint a complex picture. The 10-year yield climbed 3.9 basis points to 4.332 per cent, and the 2-year yield leaped 18.2 basis points to 3.908 per cent, reflecting a surge in risk-on sentiment. Yet, the 20-year and 30-year yields bucked the trend, easing slightly, a subtle hint that investors remain wary of the long-term fallout from this trade saga.
The robust demand at the 10-year Treasury note auction underscores a flight to quality amid the chaos—investors still see US debt as a safe harbour, even as yields tick higher. The US Dollar Index, however, barely budged, slipping just 0.1 per cent. This muted response stands in contrast to the sharp declines in safe-haven currencies like the Swiss franc and Japanese yen, both down 1.0 per cent, as risk appetite roared back to life.
Also Read: Trump tariffs shake markets: Why gold soars as Bitcoin stumbles in 2025
Commodities, too, joined the rally. Gold, often a barometer of fear, surged 3.3 per cent—its biggest one-day gain since March 2020—settling above US$3,100 per troy ounce. At first glance, this might seem counterintuitive given the risk-on mood, but it reflects a dual narrative: relief at the tariff pause, coupled with lingering unease about the US-China standoff. Brent crude oil, meanwhile, climbed 4.2 per cent to US$65 per barrel, buoyed by optimism that a broader trade war might be averted, at least for now.
Over in Asia, indices like the HSCEI rose 3.2 per cent, fuelled by hopes of more Chinese stimulus to counter the tariff squeeze. It’s a fragile optimism, though—US equity futures are already signalling a lower open, suggesting that yesterday’s euphoria might be short-lived.
The crypto market, ever a wild card, erupted in tandem with traditional assets. Bitcoin surged eight per cent to reclaim US$84,000, its strongest intraday gain since mid-March, sparked by Trump’s tariff rollback. Technical indicators hint at a potential sell-wall at US$85,000 as traders eye profits, but the momentum is undeniable. This rally comes on the heels of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink’s Monday warning that global markets could sink 20 per cent if tariffs took full effect—a prediction that now looks prescient, though his call for a “buying opportunity” has proven spot-on with this rebound.
Binance, commanding nearly half of Bitcoin’s spot trading volume, has solidified its dominance, with its altcoin market share swelling from 38 per cent to 44 per cent in Q1. It’s a testament to the exchange’s ability to capitalise on volatility, though it’s squeezing competitors in the process.
Ethereum, however, tells a darker story. Sliding to US$1,380—a level unseen since March 2023—it’s caught in a relentless downtrend, battered by macroeconomic headwinds and uncertainty over US trade policies. Sentiment in the crypto space is souring, with investors questioning whether ETH’s bullish structure can hold. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope: CryptoRank data shows Ethereum trading below its realised price, a rare signal that’s historically preceded strong recoveries. It’s too early to call a bottom, but this could be an accumulation zone for the brave.
On the central bank front, the Fed’s March FOMC minutes offered little solace, overshadowed by trade developments. Policymakers flagged “longer-lasting inflationary pressures” from tariffs, with risks to inflation skewed upward and employment downward. It’s a sobering assessment, hinting at a Fed that’s boxed in—rate cuts could stoke inflation further, while holding steady might choke growth. Across the Pacific, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) delivered a 25-basis-point cut, as expected, with a dovish tilt suggesting more easing ahead as Trump’s tariff fallout unfolds. Central banks are on edge, and rightly so.
Also Read: Global markets reel as Trump tariffs slam stocks and Bitcoin prices
So, what’s my take? This market wrap is a tale of two narratives: relief and reckoning. The 90-day tariff pause has unleashed a wave of optimism, giving stocks, commodities, and Bitcoin a much-needed boost. It’s a lifeline for a global economy teetering on the brink, and investors are grabbing it with both hands.
But the US-China trade war is a festering wound that won’t heal easily. That 125 per cent tariff is a provocation, and China’s next move—whether retaliation or negotiation—will shape the months ahead. The markets may be celebrating today, but this feels like a sugar high, not a sustainable recovery. Volatility isn’t going anywhere; the VIX may have eased, but at 33.62, it’s still elevated, signaling more turbulence to come.
I’m skeptical of Trump’s strategy. The pause is a shrewd tactical retreat, but the China escalation reeks of bravado over substance. It’s a gamble that could juice US manufacturing in the short term—hence the market’s cheer—but risks long-term damage if global trade fractures. The Fed’s caution and the RBNZ’s dovishness underscore the fragility of this moment.
For investors, it’s a time to tread carefully: the rally is real, but the risks are just as tangible. Gold’s surge tells me fear hasn’t left the building, and Ethereum’s woes remind us that not every asset thrives in chaos. As a journalist, I’ll keep digging, watching for the next twist in this saga—because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that in markets and politics, the only constant is change.
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