What's moving markets today: May 13, 2019

Japanese tech investing giant SoftBank is getting hit hard by Uber's IPO flop and the growing trade war with China.

SoftBank is the biggest investor in Uber (UBER). It owns nearly 13% of the company through its SoftBank Vision Fund. The value of that stake has plunged nearly 16% since Uber went public Friday.

Making matters worse for SoftBank? It is also the largest shareholder in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba (BABA). And that stock was down more than 3% Monday after the US and China each slapped a new round of tariffs on one another.

SoftBank shares fell more than 3% in Tokyo Monday before Wall Street opened. But based on how poorly Uber and the broader market are doing so far today, expect another big drop for Masayoshi Son's company on Tuesday.

US stocks started the week sharply lower as trade tensions between the United States and China escalated further.

Beijing announced this morning it would raise tariffs on $60 billion of US imports to 25% in retaliation to Washington ratcheting up tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion imports.

All three indexes dropped last week, with the S&P and the Nasdaq recording their worst weekly losses since December. The Dow had its worst week since March.

The only Dow component in the green this morning is Verizon (VZ), up 0.2%.

Apple (AAPL), Caterpillar (CAT) and Boeing (BA), which have been particularly sensitive to the trade headlines, are leading decliners in the Dow.

Dow futures are sharply lower on Monday after China said it will raise tariffs in retaliation for last week's tariff increase by the United States.

China hiked tariffs on $60 billion of imports from the United States. It first imposed the tariffs last year.

Worries over the escalation of the trade spat with China just aren't going away.

Stock futures are sharply down, falling some 2% across the board for the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq. Dow futures were more than 400 points lower.

Read the full story of how the trade war is affecting stocks today here.

President Trump's statement that tariffs on China were one of the reasons for the robust 3.2% GDP number for the first quarter is only half right. 

GDP growth was driven in part by a big drop in imports, following a surge of imports last year as companies attempted to stock up in advance of tariff deadlines. Usually, imports weigh negatively on GDP, while exports increase it.

A drop in imports from China was a large factor in the first quarter economic growth. But exports to China also declined. The US sells way less to China than it buys from them.

However, a drop in imports isn't always a good thing, since many imports are used to produce things in America that are then re-exported. Also, tariffs impact the economy in multiple ways, including consumer prices -- which have climbed substantially on goods subject to new tariffs -- and disruptions to supply chains. 

Cumulatively, economists estimate that the tariffs have had a slight negative impact on growth so far, and that impact will increase significantly over the next year if the new 25% tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports are not removed.

Companies themselves say that tariffs have been bad for business. Manufacturing purchasing managers indices and hiring have been down since the middle of last year. In the April NABE survey, 75% of economists at goods-producing businesses said the trade war had been a drag on growth. 

China has announced it will raise tariffs on $60 billion worth of imported goods from the United States.

The tariffs will go into effect at midnight Beijing time on June 1, according to China’s State Council Customs Tariff Commission.

Beijing's action comes in retaliation. Last Friday, the United States raised tariffs on some $200 billion Chinese imports from 10% to 25% after trade talks held in Washington failed to produce a breakthrough.

Oil prices are rising as escalating tensions in the Middle East stoke fears about a global supply crunch.

Brent crude futures — the global benchmark — gained about 1.9% on Monday to trade at $71.75 a barrel. US crude oil futures gained about 1.6% to $62.48.

Saudi Arabia said two of its oil tankers had been sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, in attacks it said posed a threat to shipping and the security of global oil supplies.

Read the full story on what drives oil prices today here.

Uber's debut on the stock market couldn't have gone worse. Day 2 isn't looking much better.

Market turmoil, steep losses and slowing growth have rattled investors' nerves.The company's stock sank 4% in premarket trading this morning, falling below $40 a share.

Uber (UBER) had set its IPO price at $45, but it started trading at $42 on Friday and finished the day down more than 7%.

To paraphrase Warren Buffett: Invest when others are scared, and be scared when others are complacent. If that's your m.o., check out the CNN Business Fear & Greed Index.

Brent crude futures, the global benchmark, jumped about 1.6%, while US oil futures rose 1.2%.

The moves come after Saudi Arabia said two of its tankers were sabotaged near a key shipping lane off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

A report from the state press agency Monday said there had been "significant damage to the structures of the two vessels," but didn't mention casualties or oil spills.

Supply fears have already helped drive prices 33% higher this year amid the Trump administration's crackdowns on two big producers: Venezuela and Iran.

Oil stocks were getting a lift, too. Shell (RDSA) climbed almost 1.2% in early trading, while BP (BP) inched 0.8% higher.