Shares of General Motors , Ford Motor , and Jeep-maker Stellantis , some of the biggest automakers in the U.S., rallied on Wednesday after news of a trade deal that will reduce tariffs on imported Japanese cars,

A group representing the ‘big three’ US automakers raised concerns that the US-Japan trade deal could hurt US auto workers

Chinese and most European indexes rose, and Japan’s TOPIX hit a record high, on trade optimism. Are 15% tariffs the new benchmark for trading with the U.S.? WSJ’s Kim Mackrael discusses. Plus, Tesla’s profit plunges as EV sales continue to drop,

President Trump has announced a flurry of trade deals that will relieve some pressure on companies and consumers from sharply higher tariffs on imports from Japan and a handful of other Asian countries.

While recession odds have been dialed back in recent weeks, economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal still see 33% odds of one coming within a year, compared with 22% at the start of 2025. Meanwhile, earnings estimates for the S&P 500 compiled by research group FactSet are 3% lower since then, the Journal said.

Oil prices climbed slightly in Asian trading on Thursday, supported by data revealing a sharp decline in U.S. crude stockpiles. Meanwhile, investors stayed watchful as trade negotiations advance ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming tariff deadline.