Asia-Pacific markets staged a sharp rebound on Tuesday, clawing back losses triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff threats against China. The region-wide recovery followed Monday’s “bloodbath,” where several indices logged their steepest falls in years.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index led the rally, surging 1,894.08 points or 6.08%, closing at 33,030.66. The broader Topix index jumped 6.81%, reflecting strong investor confidence.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index climbed 111 points or 1.51%, closing at 7,454.30, after initially opening 0.18% higher. Other major indices also gained:
- Hang Seng Index rose 321.21 points or 1.62%, ending at 20,149.51
- KOSPI Index added 21.65 points or 0.93%, finishing at 2,349.85
- Shanghai Composite inched up 19.49 points or 0.63%, to 3,116.06
The bounce-back followed reassurance from U.S. markets late Monday, although global investors remain wary. Trump doubled down on his tariff stance during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, threatening a 50% additional tariff if Beijing does not remove its retaliatory duties by April 8.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite slid over 9% after trading resumed post-circuit breaker. Vietnam’s benchmark lost more than 5%, and Thailand’s SET index plunged over 4%, hitting its lowest level since March 2020.
As Asia rallies, volatility persists. The focus now shifts to how Chinese markets react as investors brace for further policy fallout from Washington.
