The worst week since 2020: Chart of the Week

Key Points

  • Trump's tariff announcement led to a significant drop in the stock market, with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) falling nearly 6% on Friday.
  • China responded with matching tariffs, exacerbating the market's decline.
  • President Trump's social media posts indicated no change in policy, further unsettling investors.
  • The market fears an escalation of the trade war could lead to a recession, prompting expectations of multiple Fed rate cuts.

Summary

The stock market experienced a tumultuous week following President Trump's announcement of a "baseline" 10% reciprocal tariff rate, with higher duties on several countries. This unexpected move led to a sharp decline in major indices, with the S&P 500 dropping nearly 6% on Friday alone, marking its worst week since the global health crisis in March 2020. The situation worsened when China retaliated with equivalent tariffs, triggering further sell-offs. Amidst this chaos, Trump's social media posts suggested an unwavering stance on his trade policies, which did little to calm the markets. Investors are now bracing for potential economic downturns, with fears of a recession prompting expectations of more than four interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year. Despite these expectations, Fed Chair Jerome Powell remained non-committal about immediate policy changes, leaving markets without the anticipated support from either the administration or the Fed, thus intensifying the uncertainty and investor caution.

yahoo
April 5, 2025
Stocks
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