ASIAN MARKETS COLLAPSE

Asian markets are experiencing a significant downturn, with Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index plummeting 8.8% to a 1.5-year low of 30,792.74. This sharp decline has triggered a circuit breaker mechanism, temporarily halting trading in Japanese futures. The broader Topix index also suffered heavy losses, falling 8% to 2,284.69 .

Key Factors Contributing to the Downturn:

- US Tariffs: The White House's announcement of sweeping tariffs, coupled with China's retaliatory measures, has sparked fears of a global trade war.

- Recession Fears: Concerns over a potential recession have intensified, leading to a decline in investor sentiment.

- Global Market Sell-Off: The Dow Jones and S&P 500 indices have dropped significantly, with the Dow Jones experiencing its worst single-day performance since the pandemic .

Other Asian Markets Affected:

- South Korea's Kospi: Fell 4.34%

- Hong Kong's Hang Seng: Dropped 8%

- China's CSI300: Declined 4.5%

- Australia's ASX 200: Entered correction territory with an 11% fall since its peak in February

The Indian stock market is also expected to open with sharp losses, tracking the global market crash. The Sensex and Nifty 50 indices are likely to experience significant declines .