Asian Stocks Surge as Trump Delays Tariffs, Excludes China

Asian stocks surged on Thursday in response to President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on tariffs for many countries, which alleviated some trade-related concerns that had previously led to significant market volatility. The Nikkei 225 index in Japan jumped nearly 8%, with similar gains seen across South Korea and Australia, as investors rushed to buy back stocks after recent losses. Despite this relief, Trump's decision to increase tariffs on China to 125% highlighted ongoing tensions between the U.S. and its largest trading partner. Analysts noted that the market's earlier reaction to Trump's tariffs may have been overly bearish, leading to a significant rebound. The announcement followed a dramatic night on Wall Street, where the S&P 500 experienced its largest single-day gain since 2008, reflecting widespread investor optimism. However, the mixed messaging from the Trump administration regarding trade policies has left some uncertainty in the markets.