European markets opened higher on Wednesday, with France’s CAC 40 gaining 0.7% and Germany’s DAX adding 1%. Britain’s FTSE 100 also added 0.4%.
Asian stocks showed mixed results following U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on tariffs, causing uncertainty in Chinese markets. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.6%, while the Shanghai Composite lost 0.9%. However, Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index was up 1.6% after Trump announced a joint venture investing in AI infrastructure.
South Korea’s Kospi added 1.2%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.3%. Taiwan’s Taiex gained 1%, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. increasing by 1.3%.
In the U.S., the S&P 500 climbed 0.9%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.6%. U.S. Treasury yields eased after recent gains, and bitcoin pulled back from its record high.
In the foreign exchange market, the Mexican peso and Canadian dollar fell against the U.S. dollar after Trump's announcement of potential tariffs. Bitcoin, which surged amid hopes for industry-friendly policies, traded above $105,000.
U.S. crude gained 29 cents to $76.12 a barrel, while Brent crude rose to $79.60 a barrel. The U.S. dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen and the euro.
