Stock markets LIVE: FTSE forecast to surge as Nikkei 225 climbs 8.5% | Personal Finance | Finance

Asian markets have responded positively to the news that Donald Trump will pause his “Liberation Day” tariffs for most countries except China. Overnight, Japan’s Nikkei share average was up 8.2% while the Hang Sang Tech Index gained 2.4 %.

Announcing the pause on Truth Social, the US President said that the short-term reprieve was for the “more than 75 countries” who had not retaliated against his tariffs “in any way.” The stock market reaction, coupled with a fightback by China, sparked fears of a global trade war and recession in the United States.

Trump, however, has not softened his approach to China, increasing their tariff to 125% on imported goods “effective immediately”.

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