Stocks drop as tariffs worry investors; gold hits record high; Canada resists U.S. annexation talk.

Stock indexes fell on Tuesday, following declines in the Dow and S&P 500 after a nine-day winning streak.

Gold prices reached a new record as markets reacted to ongoing economic concerns.

The downturn persisted following a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump, where Carney rejected any notion of Canada being for sale.

Investors showed continued apprehension about the impact of U.S. tariffs and the absence of new trade agreements, particularly as major companies like Ford and Mattel suspended annual guidance due to tariff uncertainties.

Ford impact

Ford, while less affected than competitors, estimated potential tariff impacts could reduce profits by $1.5 billion, prompting a 2.8% increase in its stock.

In contrast, Mattel’s stock rose by 2.6% after it signalled a potential increase in U.S. toy prices, anticipating a $270 million hit from tariffs, while also planning to move manufacturing from China.

Both WK Kellogg and Marriott International adjusted their financial forecasts downward due to tariff-related challenges and broader economic uncertainties.

Clorox shares fell sharply after the company updated its guidance to reflect tariff impacts.

Additionally, President Trump indicated he would announce the details regarding pharmaceutical tariffs within two weeks.

On a related note, new data revealed the trade deficit reached a record $140.5 billion in March, exceeding economists’ expectations and reflecting a surge in imports amid trade policy changes.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq decline amid Donald Trump’s new tariffs announcement, raising investor concerns ahead of Fed policy meeting.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq experienced slight declines on Monday following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 100% tariff on foreign-produced movies.

Investors are assessing how this new tariff will impact the market ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decision later this week.

The major indices have shown volatility since Trump initiated tariffs on April 2, briefly dropping 15% before recovering in the following sessions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence that Trump’s tariff and tax agenda would stimulate long-term investments in the U.S., despite expected short-term market fluctuations.

Markets drop

The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 104.18 points, while the S&P 500 decreased by 9.60 points and Nasdaq fell by 39.60 points.

Despite Trump’s announcement, some media stocks showed resilience, while energy stocks suffered losses amid OPEC+ output hikes.

Investors await the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy announcement, where rates are anticipated to remain unchanged, though future cuts are being priced in for 2025.

Corporate profitability concerns persist due to the new tariffs, evidenced by Tyson Foods’ significant revenue miss, while Skechers reported gains following its plan to go private.

U.S. economy shrinks 0.3% in Q1 2025, raising trade policy concerns amid largest export drag since 1947.

The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, missing forecasts and sparking concerns about the growing impact of trade policy.

The drop marks the largest net export drag recorded since 1947, as businesses scrambled to import goods before Donald Trump’s new tariffs kicked in.

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