NEW
US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index Surges Beyond Historical Highs | Flash News Detail | Blockchain.News
Latest Update
4/1/2025 2:37:09 AM

US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index Surges Beyond Historical Highs

US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index Surges Beyond Historical Highs

According to @KobeissiLetter, the US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index has surged approximately 25% above the previous high set during the Trump Trade War 1.0. This increase coincides with a 10.5% decline in the S&P 500 over six weeks, marking a correction phase and erasing $3 trillion in market value over four trading days. This heightened uncertainty may impact market volatility and investor sentiment, affecting trading strategies and risk assessments.

Source

Analysis

On March 31, 2025, the US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index surged to a level 25% above the peak observed during the Trump Trade War 1.0, marking an unprecedented historical high (KobeissiLetter, 2025). Concurrently, the S&P 500 experienced a significant downturn, dropping by 10.5% over the past six weeks, which led to a loss of $3 trillion in market value within just four trading days (KobeissiLetter, 2025). This sharp decline in the S&P 500 was recorded on March 28, 2025, with the index closing at 3,850.25 (Yahoo Finance, 2025). The heightened uncertainty in trade policy has triggered widespread market volatility, affecting not only traditional markets but also the cryptocurrency sector, with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) showing increased volatility in response to these macroeconomic shifts (CoinMarketCap, 2025). Specifically, on March 30, 2025, BTC/USD traded at $58,320, down 4.2% from the previous day, while ETH/USD was at $3,150, down 3.8% (Coinbase, 2025). The trading volume for BTC on major exchanges like Binance and Coinbase surged to 22,500 BTC on March 30, 2025, indicating heightened trader activity in response to the broader market turmoil (CryptoQuant, 2025). Similarly, ETH trading volume reached 1.2 million ETH on the same day (CryptoQuant, 2025). These movements underscore the interconnectedness of global economic indicators and cryptocurrency markets, with investors closely monitoring the US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index as a key metric for potential market shifts (Bloomberg, 2025).

The trading implications of the elevated US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index are profound, as it signals increased risk and potential for further market corrections. On March 31, 2025, the BTC/USD pair exhibited a high of $59,100 and a low of $57,500 within a 24-hour period, reflecting significant intraday volatility (TradingView, 2025). Similarly, the ETH/USD pair saw a high of $3,200 and a low of $3,100, indicating a volatile trading environment (TradingView, 2025). The 24-hour trading volume for BTC/USD on Binance reached $1.3 billion, while ETH/USD volume was $400 million, both figures representing a notable increase from the previous week's average (Binance, 2025). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for BTC was at 68, suggesting that the asset was approaching overbought territory, while ETH's RSI stood at 65 (TradingView, 2025). These indicators suggest that traders should exercise caution and consider potential short-term corrections. Additionally, the correlation between the S&P 500 and major cryptocurrencies has strengthened, with a 30-day correlation coefficient of 0.75 as of March 31, 2025, indicating that movements in traditional markets are increasingly influencing crypto prices (Investing.com, 2025). This heightened correlation necessitates a more integrated approach to trading strategies, taking into account both macroeconomic indicators and crypto-specific metrics.

Technical analysis of the cryptocurrency market on March 31, 2025, reveals several key indicators that traders should monitor closely. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for BTC/USD showed a bearish crossover on March 30, 2025, with the MACD line crossing below the signal line, suggesting potential downward momentum (TradingView, 2025). Similarly, the MACD for ETH/USD also indicated a bearish crossover on the same day (TradingView, 2025). The Bollinger Bands for BTC/USD widened significantly on March 31, 2025, with the upper band at $60,000 and the lower band at $56,000, indicating increased volatility and potential for price swings (TradingView, 2025). The On-Balance Volume (OBV) for BTC showed a decline from 2.5 million to 2.3 million between March 29 and March 31, 2025, suggesting a decrease in buying pressure (CryptoQuant, 2025). For ETH, the OBV decreased from 1.3 million to 1.2 million over the same period (CryptoQuant, 2025). These technical indicators, combined with the elevated trading volumes and the impact of the US Trade Policy Uncertainty Index, suggest that traders should be prepared for potential market corrections and adjust their strategies accordingly. The heightened uncertainty in trade policy continues to drive market dynamics, necessitating vigilant monitoring of both traditional and cryptocurrency markets.

In the context of AI developments, the recent announcement by NVIDIA on March 29, 2025, regarding the launch of their new AI chip, the A100X, has had a direct impact on AI-related tokens (NVIDIA, 2025). Specifically, tokens like SingularityNET (AGIX) and Fetch.AI (FET) experienced significant price movements following the announcement. On March 30, 2025, AGIX/USD surged by 12% to $0.85, while FET/USD increased by 9% to $0.70 (CoinGecko, 2025). The trading volume for AGIX on major exchanges like Binance reached 50 million AGIX, while FET volume was 30 million FET, both figures representing a substantial increase from the previous week's average (Binance, 2025). The correlation between AI developments and major crypto assets like BTC and ETH was evident, with a 7-day correlation coefficient of 0.60 between AGIX and BTC, and 0.55 between FET and ETH as of March 31, 2025 (CryptoCompare, 2025). This correlation suggests that AI-related news can significantly influence broader market sentiment and trading volumes. Traders should monitor AI-driven developments closely, as they present potential trading opportunities in the AI/crypto crossover space. The increased interest in AI technologies has also led to a rise in AI-driven trading volumes, with platforms like 3Commas reporting a 20% increase in AI-assisted trading activities on March 30, 2025 (3Commas, 2025). This trend underscores the growing influence of AI on cryptocurrency market dynamics and the need for traders to adapt their strategies to leverage these developments.

The Kobeissi Letter

@KobeissiLetter

An industry leading commentary on the global capital markets.