Stocks slip in choppy trade as economic, tariff outlook eyed

Stocks slip in choppy trade as economic, tariff outlook eyed

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Thu March 20, 2025 4:21 PM

All three indexes had a very good morning with the Dow up nearly 300 points by 11 a.m., before all three began sliding after noon and continued to close with modest losses. So the Fed optimism lasted but a day when inflation and uncertainty took the front seat again today.  There’s nothing in the news that points to any near-term exit to this nervousness. As today’s expert put it, “When I survey the near-term news flow, I don’t have a lot of hope that we’re suddenly going to leap out of this.” The job outlook may be dimming due to government spending cuts and policy uncertainty and Q1 prospects are also dimming due to the tariff outlook.  Today’s 13.06 billion shares remains well below the 16.28 4-week average. 

DJ: 41,964.63  +383.32      NAS: 17,750.79  +246.67      S&P: 5,675.29  +60.63         3/19

DJ: 41,953.32  -11.31         NAS: 17,691.63  -59.16         S&P: 5,662.89  -12.40          3/20

Thu 3-20-25 4:21 pm Stocks slip in choppy trade as economic, tariff outlook eyed | Reuters

Wall Street rallies after Fed keeps rates unchanged

Wall Street rallies after Fed keeps rates unchanged

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Wed March 19, 2025 4:23 PM

As the markets more or less got what they wanted from the Fed this afternoon, which was a little more certainty (or less uncertainty), the indexes once again had a good surge, substantial 3-digit gains on both the Dow and Nasdaq, and the S&P had a pretty good day too. The Fed basically restated its previous positions that they expected growth to continue slowing and inflation to continue growing. The good news is that both the contraction in growth and the rise in inflation is forecasted to be moderate and, for this month’s report, both had nudged just a bit. But Powell repeated the complication that it would be difficult to gauge how much Trump’s policies are contributing to inflation and how much is to other long-present factors.  

Wall Street ends lower on tariff worry as Fed decision eyed

Wall Street ends lower on tariff worry as Fed decision eyed

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Tue March 18, 2025 4:23 PM

Yesterday there was a rally that may have been based on optimism over positive news from the Fed coming Wednesday when they will be delivering the added benefit of a report on economic projections, giving the market a much desired clearer picture of how Trump’s policies, particularly regarding tariffs, will impact the economy. Today, there was a lot more caution in the air as investors now are hedging their bets against not so great news. 

US stocks rally as investors weigh economic data, Trump policies

US stocks rally as investors weigh economic data, Trump policies

By Chuck Mikolajczak

Mon March 17, 2025 4:34 PM

All three indexes were more or less chugging along near flat (except Nasdaq in the red) until 1 pm when everything soared for the afternoon, only suddenly declining again in the final 15 minutes but still all closing in the green with the Dow once again into very respectable 3-digit gains. Like Friday, this is once again being attributed to picking up bargains after several weeks of tumble. But Trump’s policies remain a major area of nervousness and uncertainty and consumer sentiment continues to fall substantially.  

Wall St ends sharply higher as selloff prompts dip-buying rally

Wall St ends sharply higher as selloff prompts dip-buying rally

By Stephen Culp

Thu March 14, 2025 4:27 PM

Finally, finally!  Despite all the problems that remain out there, the market has finally gone low enough that investors felt comfortable picking up bargains and buying on the dip which I’m sure everybody hopes means that, despite both the S&P and Nasdaq being in correction and despite the continuing brutal uncertainty over the tariff wars, that maybe the indexes won’t go much lower. So today we had fantastic mid-to-upper range 3-digit gains across the board for the best single day since the day after the election when elation due to hopes of a better economy ruled. But it was still the fourth straight week of losses for the S&P and Nasdaq and six of the Magnificent 7 remain down for the year.  

Stocks sink with S&P 500 in correction, bonds in demand amid tariff angst

Stocks sink with S&P 500 in correction, bonds in demand amid tariff angst

By Sinéad Carew and Harry Robertson

Thu March 13, 2025 5:08 PM

The tariff wars continue to heat up and, in direct correlation, the stock market continues to drop drastically with big 3-digit dips across the board. Today, in addition to the Wednesday tariff on European steel and aluminum, now there is the additional threat of 200% tariffs on the EU as it becomes a litany of tariffs followed by reciprocal tariffs followed by more reciprocal tariffs and, so far, no one has been blinking. With the good inflation data reported yesterday and today from the CPI and PPI, we should be having a big rally but such momentum has been squashed by the ever-escalating trade war and fears of the recession it may well trigger. 

S&P 500, Nasdaq end higher as cool inflation data calms tariff jitters

S&P 500, Nasdaq end higher as cool inflation data calms tariff jitters

By Stephen Culp

Wed March 12, 2025 4:47 PM

All three indexes went into freefall in the morning session, the Dow losing about 300 points before noon.  But then a CPI report showing inflation heading in the desired direction pumped up everyone’s spirits which started a nice rally, especially in tech, a rally that likely would have been a lot stronger if not for all the fears and uncertainty surrounding the tariff wars. Because of the trade wars, “we really expect the uncertainty and volatility to continue here through much of March. Wall Street and Main Street are still looking for direction.”