Trump hits 8 European countries with tariffs: Asian and European markets fall; US stock futures tumble

Market Reactions - US stock futures fell, with S&P 500 futures down about 0.7% and Nasdaq futures down 1.0% amid thin trading due to a holiday [2][5] - The dollar weakened against safe-haven currencies, slipping against the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc [2][5] - Gold and silver reached record highs as investors sought safety, while oil prices eased due to concerns over a potential trade dispute impacting global growth [2][5] European Market Sentiment - Major European indices, including EUROSTOXX 50 and Germany's DAX futures, were down 1.1% [2][5] - The European Union condemned the tariff threat from the US, viewing it as economic coercion related to Greenland [3][5] - The EU is considering retaliatory tariffs on €93 billion ($108 billion) worth of US imports, which were previously approved but suspended [3][5] Investment Dynamics - European countries hold approximately $8 trillion in US bonds and equities, nearly double that of the rest of the world combined, which could lead to repatriation of investments [3][5] - Analysts warn that leveraging capital flows could be more disruptive to markets than tariffs alone, given the current negative net international investment position of the US [3][5] Economic Data and Corporate Earnings - Investors are awaiting Chinese economic data, with growth expected to slow to 4.4% in the December quarter from 4.8% previously [3][5] - Delayed data on US core inflation and consumer spending for November is expected to influence Federal Reserve interest rate cut expectations [3][5] - Corporate earnings reports are anticipated from major companies including Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and Intel [3][5] Currency and Commodity Markets - The euro rose 0.1% to $1.1613, while sterling increased to $1.3387; the dollar fell 0.2% against the Swiss franc and 0.3% against the yen [3][5] - Gold prices climbed 1.5% to $4,664 an ounce, while oil prices saw a slight decline, with Brent crude down 0.5% at $63.84 a barrel and US crude off 0.4% at $59.18 [3][5]