Asian Markets Plummet Amid Escalation of Trump's Tariff Battle

Asian markets experienced significant declines on Monday amid concerns over President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed on key U.S. trading partners. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan decreased by 2.4% to 38,612.96, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped by 1.8% to 8,376.30. Additionally, South Korea's Kospi fell by 2.9% to 2,443.57, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dipped 1.4% to 19,942.54. Analysts cautioned that these trade limitations could potentially reduce global trade flows and elevate inflation rates.