Asian markets rebound; tech sector shows resilience amid tariff fears

On Monday, a wave of sell-offs swept through global markets, affecting European, Asian, and American exchanges. The Polish stock exchange was also hit hard, to the point of temporarily suspending trading.

However, after the "bloody Monday," a significantly more optimistic Tuesday arrived. The session on the main Asian stock exchanges, which started late at night Eastern Time, showed a clear change. The Japanese Nikkei 225 index gained an impressive 5.58%, a significant rebound after the previous day's sell-off. The session chart showed dynamic growth from the opening, maintaining a positive trend throughout the trading day.

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong also had a rising session, rebounding from Monday's close. Despite significant volatility in the morning, with fluctuations between 20,100 and 20,400 points, the index maintained a positive trend. Buying pressure was evident in the first hour of trading, with the index rising dynamically from the opening.

The Chinese SSE Composite index from Shanghai also ended the session positively, reaching 3,125 points compared to Monday's close at 3,097. Today's rebound in Asian markets suggests a shift in investor sentiment after the global sell-off. The initial panic over U.S. tariff announcements seems to have subsided, and investors are starting to see opportunities to purchase at reduced prices.

Much better moods prevailed on the American stock market, where red dominated right after the opening. By the end of the day (the exchanges closed at 4 PM Eastern Time), the S&P 500 index, which includes 500 major American stock companies, ended Monday's session with a slight decline of 0.23%. This indicates that after initial losses, it rebounded significantly during the day but didn't climb back above the previous closing.

The dynamics of the index suggest that investors are taking a wait-and-see position, balancing between recession fears and seeking investment opportunities.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 0.099%, reaching a level of 15,603 points, a rise of about 15 points. The relatively positive mood among tech investors contrasted with the situation on other markets. The index showed volatility during the day; after initial declines in the morning, it recovered losses and ended the session with a slight gain.

Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, representing the largest American industrial companies, ended the day with a decline of 0.91%, losing 349 points and stopping at 37,966 points. The index also started the session with sharp fluctuations. Despite attempts to recover losses midday, selling pressure ultimately prevailed.

Gar Meng Leong from the Pew Research Center, a highly respected research institution in the U.S., admits that American sentiment is not uniform.

"Concerns about tariffs are fueling not only investors' imaginations but are also one of the most important topics among ordinary Americans. We are just finishing research on this subject, which will allow us to precisely answer what concerns the new tariff policy raises among citizens," he stated.

He also mentioned that recent Pew Research Center studies illuminate social sentiments in the United States.

"Americans remain deeply divided on key political issues. The economy is one of the most serious problems in the eyes of the country's residents, with only 24% of adults rating its condition as good or excellent. Significant differences are evident in the approach to immigration: 73% of Republicans see illegal immigration as a significant problem, while only 23% of Democrats agree," says Gar Meng Leong.

Regarding economic forecasts, American society presents distinct party divisions, according to Pew Research Center research.

"As many as 73% of Republicans predict that the economic situation will improve within a year, while 64% of Democrats expect it to worsen," says Gar Meng Leong.

Additionally, 67% point to healthcare access as a significant issue, and 63% express concern about inflation. Pessimism also prevails concerning forecasts for food prices and other consumer goods.

"43% of respondents believe prices will rise, compared to 37% expecting improvement." Concerns also extend to housing availability (42% expect worsening compared to 29% anticipating improvement) and healthcare (45% predict rising costs, while only 20% expect costs to decline)," says the expert.

While the overall market situation on Monday was better than the previous two trading days, Apple suffered another blow, losing 3.7% of its value due to concerns about the impact of tariffs announced by President Trump. Over three days, Apple shares experienced a 19% decline, translating to a $638 billion loss in market capitalization.

Analysts indicate that Apple is among the companies most vulnerable to the effects of the trade war, mainly because of its dependence on China, which faces 54% tariffs. According to UBS estimates, the price of the most expensive iPhone may increase by about $350, approximately 30% more than the current price of $1,199.

Experts from Barclays predict that Apple may either raise the prices of its products or reorganize its supply chain so that imports to the USA come from countries subject to lower tariff rates.

The recent market turmoil, caused by President Trump's administration's new tariffs, has significantly affected the fortunes of the world's richest people.

Elon Musk recently lost $19.9 billion, bringing his total loss since the beginning of the year to an astronomical $130 billion. Despite this, he remains the richest person in the world, with a fortune estimated at $302 billion.

Jeff Bezos, second on the list of the richest, lost $7.59 billion, shrinking his wealth by $45.2 billion since the beginning of the year. Mark Zuckerberg, with a fortune of $179 billion, recorded a loss of $9.44 billion.

Among the 17 richest individuals on the list, only Warren Buffett has seen an increase in wealth since the beginning of the year, gaining $12.7 billion despite a recent loss of $10.7 billion. Overall, the 17 wealthiest people in the world lost over $109 billion during recent changes.

Analysts emphasize the significant impact of political decisions on the current market situation. According to a survey conducted by CNBC, 69% of CEOs of American companies expect a recession following the tariff plans announced last week.

"This is Trump's recession," stated one CEO participating in CNBC's flash survey.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon also underscores the importance of these decisions for the economy. He stated, "The newly announced tariffs could hinder the already weakened American economy, raising the prices of various goods and slowing economic growth. Meanwhile, signs of an economic slowdown in the USA are already appearing." he said in a commentary for investors.