Emerging-market stocks declined for a third straight day as anxiety mounted over President Trump’s upcoming global tariff rollout. The benchmark index for developing-nation equities dropped 1.6%, hitting its lowest intraday level since mid-March, with Taiwan’s Taiex plummeting 4.2% and officially entering correction territory.
Investors across the globe pulled back ahead of the April 2 tariff deadline and a week packed with key U.S. economic data, including Friday’s jobs report. Strategists from Brown Brothers Harriman expect strong U.S. data to lift the dollar and continue pressuring emerging-market currencies.
Despite this week’s volatility, emerging-market assets are on track to post quarterly gains, aided by a softer dollar and hopes of a slowing U.S. economy. Meanwhile, South Africa’s rand rose on signs of a potential budget agreement, and Thai officials reassured investors of economic stability following a damaging earthquake in Myanmar.
Finsum: Without a roll back in tariffs, emerging markets are going to be difficult to navigate in the coming months.