Equities Mixed as Markets Await Fresh Sino-US Trade Talks – June 9, 2025

Global equity markets are trading mixed on Monday, June 9, as investors digest Wall Street’s late-week rebound and turn their focus to upcoming Sino-US trade negotiations. While optimism is cautiously returning after last week’s turbulence, ongoing political risks and sector-specific news continue to drive divergence across major asset classes.

Wall Street Recap: Friday’s Rebound Offers Tentative Relief

Wall Street ended the week on a high note, with tech stocks leading the charge. The rebound follows recent volatility tied to escalating political tensions, particularly involving high-profile companies like Tesla and Microsoft.

  • Tesla (TSLA) shares rebounded 3.67% on Friday after plunging nearly 15% on Thursday, driven largely by President Trump’s public confrontation with Elon Musk. The spat included threats to terminate government contracts with Musk’s companies, fueling sell-side panic before Friday’s recovery.
  • Microsoft (MSFT) added 0.58%, underperforming relative to peers, despite SocGen Group (Bernstein) raising its price target to $540 from $520. The firm reaffirmed its “Outperform” rating, citing strong fundamentals and continued enterprise growth in cloud and AI services.

Global Market Snapshot

Forex Markets: USD Weakens Amid Risk-On Flows

Currency markets opened the week with broad dollar softness, reflecting renewed appetite for risk assets.

Currency Pair

Change

EUR/USD

+0.2%

GBP/USD

+0.2%

USD/JPY

-0.7%

AUD/USD

+0.5%

  • The USDJPY pair fell sharply, indicating safe-haven unwinding and stronger demand for the yen.
  • The Australian dollar (AUD) led gains among G10 currencies, boosted by higher commodity prices and improved sentiment around China-related assets ahead of trade talks.

Stock Markets: Asian Indices Outperform

Global equities painted a mixed picture as Asian bourses extended gains while US futures and European markets traded flat to mildly higher.

Index

Change

DJI (Dow Jones)

+0.03%

NIKKEI (Japan)

+1.0%

HK50 (Hong Kong)

+1.1%

AU200 (Australia)

+0.1%

  • The Nikkei 225 gained 1%, helped by a weaker yen and strong tech sector performance.
  • Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (HK50) rose 1.1%, supported by investor optimism over upcoming U.S.-China negotiations and stimulus expectations from Beijing.

Commodities: Oil Pulls Back, Gold Inches Up

Energy prices eased slightly to start the week, while gold gained modestly on continued macro uncertainty.

Commodity

Change

Brent Crude (#C-BRENT)

-0.1%

Oil (WTI)

-0.1%

Gold (XAUUSD)

+0.1%

  • Oil markets remain cautious as investors weigh demand forecasts against supply-side dynamics and geopolitical risks.
  • Gold saw a mild uptick, reflecting demand for portfolio hedges amid currency fluctuations and persistent inflationary concerns.

Key Drivers to Watch This Week

1.     Sino-US Trade Talks: The resumption of formal trade discussions between Washington and Beijing is expected to dominate headlines. Any hint of progress or breakdown could cause swift market reactions, particularly in forex and equities.

2.     U.S. Inflation Data (Wednesday): Markets await May CPI figures, a key input for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. A softer-than-expected print could fuel expectations of a policy pivot later in the year.

3.     Federal Reserve Communications: Fed officials are scheduled to speak this week, which could offer more clarity on whether the central bank remains committed to its higher-for-longer interest rate strategy.

Market Outlook: Cautious Optimism Builds

Despite ongoing geopolitical and political headwinds, investor sentiment is stabilizing thanks to:

  • Resilient U.S. economic data
  • Continued momentum in AI and tech-related stocks
  • Early signs of de-escalation in U.S.-China rhetoric

However, traders should remain nimble, as volatility could resurface quickly if macro indicators or trade dialogue disappoint.

Disclaimer:

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making trading or investment decisions. All financial trading involves risk.

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