What A Roller Coaster - April 9th

Are We in the Clear?

On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, U.S. stock markets experienced one of their most significant rallies since World War II. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries, coupled with a reduction to 10% for many, ignited substantial gains across major indexes. The S&P 500 surged 9.5% (474.13 points) to close at 5,456.90, the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 2,962.86 points (7.9%) to 40,608.45, and the Nasdaq Composite leaped 12.2% (1,857.06 points) to 17,124.97. ​

However, this optimism was tempered by China's response, imposing 84% tariffs on U.S. imports, which led to sharp declines in global financial markets. U.S. futures and European stocks plummeted, and concerns about a potential U.S. recession and its global repercussions emerged. ​

Despite the day's gains, all major indexes remain down year-to-date, with the Nasdaq and Russell 2000 showing double-digit percentage losses since the beginning of the year. ​

While today's rally was significant, ongoing geopolitical tensions and market volatility suggest that the path to stability remains uncertain.