Wall Street faced a turbulent trading session on Monday as investor confidence wavered following remarks by former US President Donald Trump about potential economic headwinds. Major indices recorded significant losses, reflecting growing anxiety over trade policies and their macroeconomic implications.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 2.08% lower, while the S&P 500 shed 2.70%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index bore the brunt of the sell-off, plummeting 4%, its steepest single-day decline in months. Semiconductor and electric vehicle stocks led the downturn, with Tesla shares crashing 15% amid broader sector volatility.
ASML and Micron Technology both slid over 6%, while Nvidia retreated 5%, highlighting strain in the global tech supply chain – a development that could ripple across Asia's major semiconductor hubs. Market analysts suggest the sell-off reflects concerns about prolonged trade tensions and their impact on corporate earnings.
While the immediate reaction centered on US markets, the volatility underscores the interconnected nature of global finance. Asian investors and export-driven economies will closely monitor how these developments affect cross-border investment flows and manufacturing demand in coming weeks.
