Morgans Financial Limited

Friday (4 April) marked another brutal session for US equity markets as China responded in kind to the Trump administration’s tariff measures and further fanned recession fears - Dow dropped -2,231-points or -5.50% , with Boeing Co (down -9.49%) and 3M Co (-9.18%) both fell over >9% to lead all 30-index components lower with the exception of Nike Inc (up +3%). The latter was buoyed by a friendly social-media post from President Trump about Vietnam, a country Nike relies on heavily to manufacture their products. China’s finance ministry announced its own 34% tariff on all US imports, effective 10 April. The levy matches the 34% import duty the White House said it would impose on Chinese products slated to go into effect no later than 9 April. Beijing said Trump's tariffs were "inconsistent with international trade rules, seriously undermines China's legitimate rights and interests, and is a typical unilateral bullying practice." In addition to the tariffs, China imposed export bans on select rare earth mater