Global shares rose Thursday in thin trading as many markets remained closed for May Day, while uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
Britain’s FTSE 100 edged up less than 0.1% to 8,496.53 in early trading. U.S. stock futures pointed higher, with the S&P 500 up 1.5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 0.7%.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed 1.1% higher at 36,452.30 after the Bank of Japan, as expected, left interest rates unchanged. However, the central bank sharply cut its economic growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 to 0.5% from 1.1%, citing growing concerns over global trade policy risks. “Considering the significant downgrading of growth and inflation forecasts… the central bank will likely take a long pause,” said Shigeto Nagai of Oxford Economics.
The U.S. dollar rose to 144.19 yen, while the euro dipped slightly to $1.1329.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 inched up 0.2% to 8,145.60.
Market watchers remain cautious over the escalating trade war driven by President Trump’s shifting tariff strategy, which has introduced volatility and deep uncertainty. Trump said Wednesday, “I’m not taking a credit or discredit for the stock market. I’m just saying we inherited a mess.”
Wall Street finished mixed on Wednesday: the S&P 500 rose 0.2%, the Dow added 0.4%, while the Nasdaq dipped 0.1%. Economists continue to warn of a looming “stagflation” scenario—where inflation remains high while growth slows—further complicating the Federal Reserve’s policy options.
Investors are now eyeing Friday’s U.S. jobs report for clearer signals on economic momentum.
In energy markets, U.S. crude fell $1.07 to $57.14 a barrel. Brent crude dropped $1.00 to $60.06 a barrel.
