Stock Markets Today, August 15. Asian Markets Rise, Trump Says Chip Tariffs Next Week
Wall Street opens at two speeds
Wall Street opened mixed, with the Dow Jones gaining 0.65% to 45,203.52 points and the S&P 500 above par by 0.03% to 6,470.21 points, while the Nasdaq dropped 0.11% to 21,687.73 points.
Trump announces tariffs on chips next week
Chip tariffs will arrive next week: they'll be low at first, then become very high. Donald Trump said so, according to Bloomberg.
U.S. Empire State Index hits highest since November 2024
The New York Empire State Manufacturing Index rose to 11.9 in August, its highest level since November 2024, up from 5.5 in July and well above market expectations of 0, signaling a strong rebound in manufacturing activity.
United States, retail sales increase
U.S. retail sales rose 0.5% month-over-month in July, in line with market expectations and following an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in June. The largest increases were seen in sales at auto and parts dealerships and furniture and home furnishings stores.
European stock markets, London falls at midday
After a positive opening, European stock markets are gaining ground, while London weakens. The Milan Stock Exchange is closed for holidays. Paris gains 0.66%, London hovers around parity, and Frankfurt rises 0.31%. Madrid also performs well, gaining 0.59%.
Japan's Nikkei hits new record high
The Tokyo Stock Exchange closed sharply higher, with the Nikkei gaining 1.71% to a new record high of 43,378.31 points, after the government reported that the economy grew 1% year-on-year in the April-June quarter. The figure beat analysts' forecasts.
Germany, employment stable in the second quarter
In the second quarter of this year, employment in Germany remained unchanged: approximately 46 million workers, according to the Federal Statistical Office. There was no difference between the second quarter of 2025 and the same period in 2024, with an increase in employment of 10,000, corresponding to a 0% change. However, there are significant differences between sectors: moderate growth (+0.5%) was observed compared to the second quarter of 2024 in the services sector, although significant differences were found across sectors. Industry saw a 1.7% decline, construction a 0.8% decline, and agriculture and fishing a 1% decline.
Japan's GDP rose 1% in the second quarter
Japan's economy grew 1% year-on-year in the last quarter, beating expectations, thanks to exports that held up despite the increase in tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump (the US imposed a 15% tax on imports from Japan). Real gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the total value of a nation's goods and services, grew 0.3% in the first fiscal quarter compared to the previous quarter, exceeding analysts' estimates. This is Japan's fifth consecutive quarter of growth.
Oil prices are falling
On the day of the Alaska summit, where investors are focused, oil prices are declining. The price of a barrel of Brent crude is down 0.60% to $66.44, and that of a barrel of US WTI is down 0.67% to $63.53.
European stock markets open positive
European stock markets are off to a positive start, with Paris gaining 0.59%, London 0.44%, and Frankfurt 0.63%. The Milan Stock Exchange is closed for mid-August. Investors are looking ahead to the Alaska summit, where the Trump-Putin battle is about to begin. The less-than-enthusiastic macroeconomic data from China, where industrial production and consumption are slowing, have had no impact.
China's industrial production and retail sales decline
China's industrial production and retail sales in July were below expectations on an annual basis and slowed, respectively, to +5.7% (from +6.8% in June and versus estimates of +5.9%) and +3.7% (from +4.8% in June and forecasts of +4.6%). According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, fixed investment slowed to +1.6% year-on-year in the first seven months of 2025, less than the +2.6% expected by analysts and the +2.7% from January to June, with infrastructure up +3.2% and manufacturing up +6.2%. Real estate investment declined, down 12%, confirming the sector's deep-rooted difficulties. Urban unemployment rose to +5.2% from +5% in June and estimates for +5.1%.
Shanghai closed at +0.83%, Shenzhen at +1.73%
Chinese stock markets closed the session in positive territory, despite below-expected industrial production and retail sales data for China: the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.83% to 3,696.77 points, while the Shenzhen Composite Index gained 1.73% to 2,300.77 points.
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