Global equity markets opened higher on Thursday, buoyed by sharp gains in U.S. futures after a landmark federal court ruling blocked former President Donald Trump’s authority to impose trade tariffs. The move was viewed as a significant de-escalation of trade-related risks, further supported by strong quarterly results from artificial intelligence major Nvidia.
A U.S. federal court ruled that Donald Trump did not have the authority to set tariffs unilaterally, effectively blocking the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs introduced during his presidency. The Trump administration has already appealed the decision. The White House issued a sharp response, stating, “It’s not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency.”
This legal development was interpreted by markets as a rollback of protectionist trade policies, leading to a relief rally in equities. U.S. stock index futures surged in response:
-
Dow Futures jumped 500 points (+1.19%) to 42,599
-
Nasdaq Futures gained 400 points (+1.88%) to 21,718
-
Russell 2000 Futures rose 41 points (+1.98%) to 2,109
The positive momentum spilled over into global markets:
-
Germany’s DAX Futures were up 190 points (+0.79%)
-
UK’s FTSE Futures added 62 points (+0.70%)
-
Japan’s Nikkei Index gained 529 points (+1.40%) to 38,252
-
South Korea’s KOSPI rose 30 points (+1.14%)
-
Taiwan’s Taiex Futures climbed 141 points (+0.67%)
India’s GIFT Nifty was up 57 points (+0.23%) at 24,820 (adjusted). However, Hang Seng Futures in Hong Kong edged slightly lower by 24 points (-0.10%).
This rebound comes after a slightly negative close on Wall Street on the previous day:
-
Dow Jones closed at 42,099, down 245 points (-0.58%)
-
Nasdaq ended at 19,101, lower by 98 points (-0.51%)
Analysts noted that the combination of strong AI earnings and legal checks on unilateral tariff powers has infused fresh optimism across equity markets globally.
