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US stocks managed to eke out gains on Monday as bond yields eased off bigger gains and Wall Street largely shrugged off Moody's downgrade of the US credit rating. Meanwhile, investors digested developments in President Trump's tariff salvos. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.3%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) managed to close above the flatline to extend its 5-day win streak. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) also rose slightly. Moody’s cut the US government’s long-term credit rating from AAA to AA1 late Friday, citing escalating deficits and the...

Stocks closed up for the week, as optimism over trade deals overshadowed plummeting consumer sentiment data released on Friday. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) extended gains for a fifth straight session, up more than 5% for the week. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) also rose more than 7% over the past five days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) also rose on Friday, gaining more than 3% for the week. Investors expect more negotiations to come after the US announced a trade pact with China on Monday. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment tumbled...

US stock futures slid back on Thursday as investors waited for fresh retail sales and wholesale inflation data to shed light on the health of the economy, with a Jerome Powell speech and earnings from Walmart (WMT) on deck. Futures on the S&P 500 (ES=F) dropped 0.5%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) dropped around 0.4%. Contracts on the Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) tumbled 0.7%, coming off a sixth upbeat session for tech stocks in a row. Markets are on watch for the next catalyst now the US-China trade-truce euphoria...

US stock futures held steady as investor sentiment continued to moderate following signs of easing trade tensions and an invigorated tech sector. Futures attached to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (YM=F) and the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) slipped 0.1%. Futures attached to the benchmark S&P 500 (ES=F) dipped 0.2%. On Wednesday, stocks mostly rose, boosted by an Nvidia-led tech rally. The chipmaker's stock has been on a tear this week and turned green for the year as President Trump's visit to the Middle East opened up deals with Saudi Arabia...

April's Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed inflation pressures eased in the first month that many of President Trump's tariffs were in effect. The latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that consumer prices increased 2.3% over the prior year in April, a slowdown from March's 2.4% and below economists' forecast for 2.4%. This marked the lowest annual increase since February 2021, before a large increase in inflation sparked a Federal Reserve interest rate hiking cycle. On a month-over-month basis, prices increased 0.2%, above the 0.1% decrease seen...

Investors worldwide are assessing the US-China deal to reduce their hefty rates of reciprocal tariffs, slashed by 115 percentage points to 10% on both sides. Aaron Hill, FP Markets' chief analyst This "marks a pivotal moment in global trade dynamics. However, the 90-day timeframe indicates these tariff cuts are a negotiation tactic rather than a permanent resolution, creating uncertainty about long-term trade policies." Kenneth Broux, Societe Generale senior FX and rates strategist "There is a de-escalation between China and U.S. resulting in a reduction of tariff on Chinese goods to...

Stocks rose at the open on Wall Street on Friday after President Trump suggested cutting US tariffs on Chinese imports. His comment fueled further optimism that the trade war is easing ahead of talks between Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's team and Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.2%. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.4%, while the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) gained about 0.5%. In a social media post on Friday morning, Trump suggested an 80% tariff rate for Chinese imports. Markets are attempting...

US stock futures trod water on Friday as Wall Street digested the latest signs President Trump's trade war could be entering a more conciliatory phase as the US heads into talks with China. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F) slipped roughly 0.2%, while S&P 500 futures (ES=F) traded broadly flat. Contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (NQ=F) tipped 0.1% higher. Markets are focused on the US-China trade talks in Geneva this weekend, following a rally in stocks on Thursday as Trump unveiled a US-UK trade deal. His administration is weighing...

The steep recovery in equity markets over the past two weeks is typical of bear market rallies, and the erratic swings mean almost every investor will experience pain whichever direction the market suddenly moves. Goldman Sachs Group (GS) strategist Peter Oppenheimer said “the asymmetry for equity investing is poor. Sharp rallies within bear markets are the norm, not the exception.” The biggest market driver is still uncertainty, with no real long-term bullish or bearish conviction seen from investors. Price action is mainly fueled by short-term headlines and guesswork on how...

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday on Capitol Hill that new trade deals with major partners could be announced as soon as this week. "Many of our trading partners have approached us with very good offers, and we are in the process of renegotiating those," Bessent said, noting that the US is currently in talks with 17 of its 18 key trading partners, with China as the exception. "I'd be surprised if we don't have more than 80% or 90% of those wrapped up by the end of the year,...