Articles in this Cluster
22-04-2025
US stocks and the dollar fell after Donald Trump escalated attacks on Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, calling him “a major loser” and urging immediate rate cuts. The S&P 500 dropped about 2.4% Monday (down ~12% YTD), the Dow fell 2.5% (~10% YTD), and the Nasdaq slid over 2.5% (~18% YTD). The dollar index hit its lowest since 2022, Treasury yields rose, and gold reached a record above $3,400/oz as investors sought safe havens. Trump’s criticism, tied to his tariff plans and recession fears, includes calls to fire Powell—an action seen as controversial and legally doubtful—after Powell warned tariffs could raise prices and slow growth. Asian markets were mostly flat to slightly lower.
Entities: Donald Trump, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve, S&P 500, US dollar index • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
Asia-Pacific stocks were mostly subdued, tracking a sharp Wall Street sell-off after President Trump intensified pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, raising concerns about Fed independence. Japan’s Nikkei and Topix were flat; South Korea’s Kospi and Kosdaq edged up; Australia’s ASX 200 fell; Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s CSI 300 slipped. U.S. indices dropped 2.3%–2.6%, while futures hovered near flat. Analysts flagged rising stagflation risks and a rotation from U.S. assets; the dollar’s slide is pressuring global central banks. Gold hit a record above $3,425 as a safe-haven play, and bitcoin climbed toward $88,000 amid broader risk repricing. Nomura will buy Macquarie’s U.S./Europe public asset management unit for $1.8 billion. Moody’s expects the Bank of Japan to pause rate hikes in May due to market volatility, though further tightening is likely later. India and the U.S. reported “significant” progress toward a bilateral trade deal during VP Vance’s visit.
Entities: Asia-Pacific stocks, Donald Trump, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve, Nikkei • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
U.S. markets fell after President Trump intensified attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, urging immediate rate cuts and calling Powell “Mr. Too Late.” The S&P 500, Dow, and Nasdaq dropped over 2%, the dollar hit a three-year low, and gold reached a record high—signaling a flight to safety and waning confidence in the U.S. Tesla shares slid nearly 6% ahead of earnings, now down 44% year-to-date. Wells Fargo said Amazon’s AWS paused some data center leasing discussions, especially internationally, though not canceling deals. Evercore ISI warned markets could react “severely” if Trump attempts to remove Powell. Separately, global leaders mourned Pope Francis, who died at 88.
Entities: Donald Trump, Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve, S&P 500, Nasdaq • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
European stocks were set to open higher after the long Easter weekend, with futures pointing to gains for the FTSE 100, DAX, CAC 40 and FTSE MIB, according to IG. No major European earnings or data are due Tuesday, but investors are watching the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings for commentary on the potential impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Asia-Pacific markets were subdued following a Wall Street sell-off, as Trump intensified public pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut rates and hinted at possible efforts to remove him—claims Powell has rejected, citing legal protections through May 2026.
Entities: FTSE 100, DAX, CAC 40, FTSE MIB, IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
U.S. stock futures rebounded modestly after a sharp sell-off, with Dow futures up ~0.4% and S&P 500/Nasdaq 100 up ~0.5%. Monday’s declines (Dow -970+, S&P 500 and Nasdaq -2%+) marked a fourth straight losing session amid mounting uncertainty from President Trump’s public attacks on Fed Chair Jerome Powell and threats of “termination,” as well as ongoing tariff risks. Markets have fallen over 9% since Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement. Investors await Richmond Fed manufacturing data and speeches from Fed officials, plus earnings from Lockheed Martin (pre-market) and Tesla (after close). After-hours movers included BOK Financial (-3% on EPS miss), Calix (+14% on strong results/guidance), and MongoDB (-2% on CFO change). UBS said AI-driven tech fundamentals remain solid despite volatility, expecting global tech earnings to grow in the low teens in 2025 and AI adoption to surpass 10% by year-end.
Entities: Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Donald Trump, Jerome Powell • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
The U.S. dollar has fallen over 9% this year amid policy uncertainty and investor flight from U.S. assets, with many expecting further declines. Safe-haven and several developed-market currencies (yen, franc, euro, CAD) have strengthened, while some emerging market currencies (dong, rupiah, lira) have weakened. A softer dollar eases debt burdens and imported inflation for many countries, giving some central banks room to cut rates—illustrated by the ECB and SNB moves—but it also threatens export competitiveness, especially in Asia under renewed U.S. tariffs. Emerging markets face a dilemma: devaluation could support exports but risks higher inflation, capital flight, and U.S. retaliation. Analysts say most central banks prefer to avoid deliberate devaluation for now to prevent a currency war, though pressures could rise if trade tensions escalate.
Entities: U.S. dollar, European Central Bank (ECB), Swiss National Bank (SNB), yen, euro • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
22-04-2025
Tesla reported a sharp downturn, with revenue down 9%, automotive revenue down 20%, adjusted income down 39%, and net income plunging 71% year-over-year after its biggest-ever sales drop—50,000 fewer vehicles, the lowest sales in nearly three years. Amid protests and reported brand backlash tied to Elon Musk’s controversial role leading the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk said he will scale back his DOGE involvement to one or two days a week starting in May to refocus on Tesla. He defended DOGE’s mission to cut “waste and fraud,” downplayed brand damage, and attributed demand weakness to macroeconomic uncertainty and trade policy turmoil, as new tariffs cloud the outlook. Tesla shares rose about 4% after-hours on news of his partial return.
Entities: Tesla, Elon Musk, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump administration, CNN Business • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
22-04-2025
US markets are flashing major warning signs amid President Trump’s renewed trade war. The Dow is having its worst April since the Great Depression-era 1931–1932, and the S&P 500 is down 14% through April 21, the weakest start for any president since records began. The dollar has slumped to a three-year low, marking the worst early-term performance on record, while Treasury bonds have sold off with yields jumping. Investors are rotating out of US assets into foreign stocks, and oil is plunging on recession fears. Gold is surging to record highs, up nearly 25% this term. The IMF warns the rapid reset of global trade, sparked by Trump’s sweeping tariffs, is slowing growth and could reignite inflation, with business leaders citing damaging policy uncertainty.
Entities: Donald Trump, Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, U.S. dollar, U.S. Treasury yields • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: warn
