Market Rebounds Amid Fed Caution, Trade Uncertainty Weighs on Weekly Performance
U.S. stocks closed higher on Friday, reversing early losses after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reassured investors that the economy remains “in a good place.” However, concerns over monetary policy and trade uncertainty drove Wall Street to its biggest weekly decline in months.
Key Index Performance
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: +222.64 points (+0.52%) to 42,801.72
- S&P 500: +31.68 points (+0.55%) to 5,770.20
- Nasdaq Composite: +126.97 points (+0.70%) to 18,196.22
For the week:
- S&P 500 fell 3.1% (biggest weekly drop since September)
- Nasdaq declined 3.45% (third consecutive weekly loss)
- Dow fell 2.37%
- Russell 2000 (small-cap index) dropped 3.86%
Powell’s Comments & Market Reaction
Powell signaled that the Fed will not rush to cut interest rates, reinforcing a cautious stance on monetary policy easing. He also acknowledged concerns over President Donald Trump’s trade policies, which have fueled market volatility.
“Powell is echoing what the rest of us feel: unease that while the adjustments made by the administration may well work and put the country on better financial footing, the speed and whipsaw-like nature of the change makes it difficult to predict and to plan around,” said Jamie Cox, Managing Partner at Harris Financial Group.
Trade Uncertainty & Economic Indicators
Markets were rattled this week by uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff policies on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq suffered their longest losing streak since mid-2023 as fears over trade retaliation mounted.
On Thursday, Trump announced a four-week reprieve on tariffs for Canada and Mexico, but trade tensions with China remain unresolved. Several reciprocal trade barriers are expected to take effect in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, U.S. job growth accelerated in February, but unemployment ticked up to 4.1%, adding to concerns about the economy’s resilience. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs lowered their growth forecasts, citing weaker consumer spending.
“This is a growth scare,” said Adam Hetts, Portfolio Manager at Janus Henderson Investors. “It involves a spate of unpleasant economic data, with the primary driver being weaker consumer spending.”
Sector Performance & Stock Movers
Among the S&P 500’s 11 sectors, utilities, energy, technology, and industrials led the gains, while consumer discretionary, financials, and consumer staples were the biggest laggards.
Biggest Stock Movers:
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (-12%): Issued a weaker profit forecast due to tariff impacts.
- Costco (-6%): Missed Wall Street earnings estimates due to higher merchandise costs.
- Broadcom (+8.6%): Strong AI-driven forecast eased investor concerns over chip demand.
Market Breadth & Trading Volume
- Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners by a 1.35-to-1 ratio on the NYSE.
- New Highs & Lows:
- S&P 500: 8 new 52-week highs, 13 new lows.
- Nasdaq: 28 new highs, 159 new lows.
- NYSE: 92 new highs, 136 new lows.
- Trading volume: 16.92 billion shares, slightly above the 20-day moving average of 16.23 billion.
Outlook: Market Faces More Volatility Ahead
While Powell’s reassurances helped stabilize stocks on Friday, the market remains on edge as investors navigate rate uncertainty, trade tensions, and signs of economic slowdown.
With Trump’s tariff policies still evolving and the Fed remaining cautious on rate cuts, volatility is expected to persist in the coming weeks.