Wall Street ends with heavy losses on fears Trump tariffs will trigger recession

Wall Street ends with heavy losses on fears Trump tariffs will trigger recession

By David French

Thu April 3, 2025 4:00 PM

As was widely expected, today was a historic disaster as all three indexes suffered their biggest one-day percentage losses in five years due to massive fears triggered by yesterday’s sweeping and severe tariffs announcement. All the indexes closed down in the 4-6% range. All expectations for earnings and revenues for most companies are going to be lowered. Big tech got hit particularly hard with Apple, Amazon, and Nvidia all down about 9%. There is a mystery in that, though the freefall began right at open, at about 11 a.m. a significant recovery began that abruptly halted, again on all three indexes, right at 1 p.m. when the freefall then continued unstopped for the rest of the session. I’ve found no explanation for what happened at either 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. 

Wall Street ends higher, rebounds in choppy trade ahead of Trump tariff plan

Wall Street ends higher, rebounds in choppy trade ahead of Trump tariff plan

By David French

Wed April 2, 2025 4:20 PM

On dour anticipation of today’s tariff announcement, all three indexes started in the red but then quickly started gaining ground, albeit very choppy, with the Dow and Nasdaq once again in 3-digit gains by close. Trump did not deliver the tariff news until about an hour after the markets closed and, hedging bets, investors were buying ahead of the news expecting a moderate approach. Also prompting the buying was reported news that Trump may be phasing out Musk’s role sooner than expected.  

S&P, Nasdaq end higher as Wall Street gyrates in Trump-tariffs limbo

S&P, Nasdaq end higher as Wall Street gyrates in Trump-tariffs limbo

By David French

Tue April 1, 2025 5:55 PM

There was all kind of erratic trading today with all indexes bouncing back and forth between black and red but closing near even except for the Nasdaq that enjoyed a healthy 3-digit gain. Tomorrow’s D-Day with all the markets bracing for whatever shock is coming, but there is at least some agreement that there will be at least a little more clarity after tomorrow which may help stabilize things a bit. Others are more skeptical, the overall backdrop expected to remain highly uncertain.  

S&P, Nasdaq post big quarterly percentage drops on Trump tariff turmoil

S&P, Nasdaq post big quarterly percentage drops on Trump tariff turmoil

By David French

Mon March 31, 2025 4:54 PM

Today, rather than getting more assurances from the White House that the tariffs coming this Wednesday would be measured, instead there was the announcement Sunday that they would be widespread and include all nations which caused all the indexes to open down, the Nasdaq way down. The rest of the session was in recovery mode with the S&P and Dow doing better due to more safe haven stocks being available there.  

Wall Street tumbles as fresh data fuels inflation fear

Wall Street tumbles as fresh data fuels inflation fear

By Noel Randewich and Pranav Kashyap

Fri March 28, 2025 4:31 PM

The highly awaited PCE numbers came with a disappointment showing what was feared – inflation up and thus consumer spending down, or to put it more accurately, spending rebounded less than expected. All in all, it just further fueled the fires of fear and uncertainty and, combined with the coming automobile tariffs, sent all three indexes spiraling way down constantly all day, major 3-digit drops all around. The U of M consumer inflation survey showed expectations exploding to a 2-1/2 year high, beating down stalwarts Apple, Microsoft and Amazon from 2.7% to 4.3%. All three indexes were down for the week from 1% to 2.6%. And it gets worse.  

S&P 500 ends lower as investors digest Trump's auto tariffs

S&P 500 ends lower as investors digest Trump's auto tariffs

By Noel Randewich

Thu March 27, 2025 4:20 PM

On this second day, the shock of the automobile tariffs coming April 3^rd and auto parts coming May 3^rd continues to rattle automakers with both GM and Ford down another 7% and 3.9% respectively after yesterday’s big hit. Auto parts makers also took a 5% hit. As today’s expert put it, “Investors are really cautious and wary of Trump and his policies. Even more than the policies, just the constant flip-flopping, making people really nervous about making long-term investments.”  

Wall Street ends down sharply on tariff worries; Nvidia and Tesla drop

Wall Street ends down sharply on tariff worries; Nvidia and Tesla drop

By Noel Randewich

Wed March 26, 2025 4:37 PM

Detroit got bad news today. The market didn’t have to wait until April 2^nd for a hoped-for allay of tariff fears. They got it with both barrels today with Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on all foreign-made autos and auto parts. Since most even domestic autos are made with at least some (and often many) foreign made parts, the entire U.S. auto industry will be impacted which sent all three indexes straight down from the open and staying that way all day, closing again with 3-digit losses.