Asian markets down: Japan's Nikkei plunged 5% at the open, following losses on Wall Street, due to concerns over the escalation of the trade war. The MSCI Asia Pacific index fell about 1%, reflecting fears about the economic impact of tariffs imposed by Trump and China's retaliations, which raised tariffs on US imports to 84%.
• Dollar and safe-haven assets: The US dollar lost strength today, while the Japanese yen and Swiss franc gained ground as safe-haven assets. Gold reached a new record, surpassing $3,200, driven by the search for safety amid global uncertainty.
• Cautious Europe: European stock markets opened slightly higher, but the Stoxx 600 is trading volatile. The European Central Bank (ECB) signaled a higher likelihood of interest rate cuts in April, with officials warning of a greater-than-expected economic impact due to trade tariffs.
• Brazil under pressure: In Brazil, the real remains devalued, with the dollar close to R$ 5.70. The Brazilian stock market (B3) is expected to open lower, reflecting global sentiment. The Central Bank maintains a hawkish stance, with the Selic at 11.25% and the possibility of further hikes to curb inflation.
Cryptocurrencies
• Volatile Bitcoin: Bitcoin retreated to around $77,000 after an attempt to recover yesterday. Macroeconomic uncertainty, including tariffs and the risk of rising US debt, is weighing on the crypto market. Nevertheless, long-term sentiment remains positive, with bullish forecasts for the second quarter.
• Mixed altcoins: Ethereum fell to about $1,600, but coins like Solana (+3%) and XRP (+2%) show some resilience. Memecoins, like Dogecoin, are stable, but analysts warn of a lack of fundamentals amid speculation.
• Regulatory news: In the US, the confirmation of Paul Atkins as the new SEC chairman, with a pro-crypto stance, continues to generate optimism. There are speculations about the approval of new ETFs, including for Solana and Avalanche, which could attract more institutional capital.
• Bitcoin mining: Today's reports indicate that the largest publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies, such as Marathon Digital, accumulated about $800 million in BTC in the first quarter, with prices sustained near record levels.
Other Highlights
• Tariffs remain on the radar: China announced it will accelerate the sale of US Treasury securities in response to Trump's tariffs, which could increase pressure on Treasury yields. This keeps global markets on alert.
• Expected events: Today, the market is awaiting speeches from Federal Reserve officials and producer price index (PPI) data in the US, which could influence expectations about monetary policy.
