(04 MAY 2020)DAILY MARKET BRIEF 1:Renewed US-China trade tensions

<p>Asian equities kicked off the week on a mixed note. China and Japan were closed for holiday, the ASX 200 gained 1.13%, while stocks in Hong Kong lost around 4% on worries that Donald Trump could impose new tariffs on Chinese exports.</p>
<p>While investors are already bombarded with weak economic data and bad corporate results as a result of a strict global economic lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis, throwing renewed trade tensions will only serve to further dash investors’ hopes of a healthy global recovery once the crisis is over.</p>
<p>Donald Trump who had a terrible hit from the stock markets in the run up to this year’s presidential election should find the right balance between blaming China for the virus to convince the crowds to vote for him, and providing a solid basis for the economy to heal.</p>