Author name: Swapnil Bhatnagar

Global financial markets navigated a period of heightened volatility during the week ending April 18, 2025. The primary driver of investor sentiment and market movement was the significant uncertainty surrounding US trade tariff policies, which had been announced earlier in the month and came into effect on April 5th.1 This uncertainty triggered sharp market reactions across the globe, with major indices experiencing significant swings, particularly early in the week when some markets flirted with bear market territory

The week ending April 11, 2025, etched itself into recent market history as a period defined by extraordinary volatility across global equity markets. This turbulence was primarily ignited and sustained by the unpredictable and rapidly escalating trade policy actions initiated by the United States, particularly concerning the trade relationship with China. The constant stream of tariff announcements, retaliations, and shifting policy stances created an environment of profound uncertainty, overshadowing economic data releases and corporate earnings reports.