The Thai stock market experienced a sharp decline today (February 3, 2025), plunging by 42 points or 3.2%, reaching 1,272.41 points during the Monday morning opening session. This downturn reflects investor anxiety following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, sparking fears of a potential global trade war.
As of 10:46 BKK time on Monday, the loss was 1.90% as the market hovers around 1,289 points. The lowest level since August 2024.
The negative impact extended across regional markets, evidenced by Japan’s Nikkei Index opening at 38,932.66 points, marking a reduction of 639.83 points or 1.61%. Similarly, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index opened at 20,048.87 points, decreasing by 176.24 points or 0.87%.
Moreover, the S&P/ASX 200 Index on the Australian Stock Exchange fell 1.86%, while South Korea’s KOSPI Index dropped 2.32%. Meanwhile, the Chinese market remains closed today in observance of the Lunar New Year festival.
President Trump signed the executive order on Saturday (February 1), mandating a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on imports from China, set to take effect from Tuesday, February 4, according to U.S. time. This policy move has escalated investor concerns about international trade dynamics and their subsequent impact on global financial markets.
