Equity markets were rattled last week as President Trump followed through with his threat to raise tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion on Chinese imports on Friday. The Chinese reportedly added a threat to impose the 25% tariff on an additional $325 billion of Chinese goods if an agreement by the world’s largest economies can’t be reached.
As expected, China retaliated by announcing the intention of imposing tariffs on an additional $60 billion of U.S. goods that could reach 25% and would be effective June 1st. The Chinese are mainly targeting goods that hit President Trump’s political base the hardest such as tobacco and bourbon produced in the South, ginseng grown in Wisconsin, and Soybeans grown in Middle America. A Chinese state-owned tabloid is reporting that a broader retaliation is expected including reducing airplane orders to Boeing and selling U.S. Treasuries. Larry Kudlow, President Trump’s top economic advisor, said on Sunday that it’s “strongly possible” President Trump and China’s President Xi will meet at the G20 summit in Japan next month.
To add to the market’s angst, days after the U.S. warned that “Iran or its proxies” may target commercial ships in the Middle East, two Saudi Arabian oil tankers were targeted by “sabotage attacks.” The U.S. ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln, a carrier strike group and bomber task force which was already in the region, through the Suez Canal, and into the Red Sea. The U.S. has also approved the deployment of a Patriot missile defense battery and another warship, the USS Arlington, to the MiddleEast as tensions build.
Printer-Friendly PDF
Author: Jim Rambo, CFA | Research Team | Allegheny Financial Group | May 2019
The information included herein was obtained from sources which we believe reliable. This report is being provided for informational purposes only. It does not represent any specific investment and is not intended to be an offer of sale of any kind. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Allegheny Financial Group is a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through Allegheny Investments, LTD, a registered Broker/Dealer. Member FINRA/SIPC.
