Stocks nosedive after Trump announces tariffs

FAN Editor

U.S. stocks took a beating in afternoon trading on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced stiff new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 500 points, or 2 percent, to 24,498. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite index also each fell 2 percent. 

Stocks were higher earlier in the day after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, testifying before Congress, appeared to calm one of the market’s main worries when he said that he does not see inflation in workers’ wages “at a point of acceleration.” Investors have been nervous about the possibility that the Fed may get more aggressive about raising interest rates to beat down inflation.

But the market dropped into negative territory in the afternoon after President Donald Trump told steel and aluminum executives that he’ll impose tariffs on imports next week.

One recent fear for investors has been the possibility of a trade war, where countries throw up barriers that hurt the global economy and profits for exporting companies.

Shares of steelmakers swung wildly amid speculation that the U.S. government would impose tariffs or quotas on steel and aluminum imports. They surged in the morning following reports that the White House planned to make the announcement shortly, only to lose most of the gains when subsequent reports said the announcement may not happen. They skyrocketed again after President Donald Trump told industry executives that he’ll impose import tariffs “next week.”

U.S. Steel (X) was up $3.73, or 8.6 percent, to $47.25, and AK Steel (AKS) jumped 52 cents, or 10.1 percent, to $5.68.

Industrial companies that could be hurt by higher steel prices fell. Heavy equipment maker Caterpillar (CAT) lost $3.12, or 2 percent, to $151.54 and aerospace giant Boeing (BA) gave back $8.59, or 2.4 percent, to $353.70.

In a research note, analysts at Barclays said they expect the immediate effects of the tariffs on the U.S. economy to be limited because “aluminum and steel imports together account for only about 2 percent of total goods imports.” But they cautioned there are risks–specifically, “the response of US trading partners and whether the administration’s decision to impose restrictive trade policies is only the first in a series of moves.”

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dipped to 2.81 percent from 2.86 percent late Wednesday. The two-year yield slipped to 2.23 percent from 2.26 percent, and the 30-year yield dropped to 3.11 percent from 3.13 percent.

On the economic front, a raft of reports on the economy provided a mixed picture.

One report showed that inflation remains below the Fed’s preferred target of 2 percent, but economists said that the advance for inflation in recent months has been enough to keep the Fed on track to continue raising interest rates. It raised rates three times last year, and investors are debating whether it will add another three or four increases this year.

Other reports showed that manufacturing is growing at its fastest rate in nearly 14 years, while construction spending was weaker than economists expected last month.

Oil prices continue to drop following a report on Wednesday that showed more crude supplies in inventories last week than analysts expected. Benchmark U.S. crude fell 49 cents to $61.19 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, lost 62 cents to $64.11 per barrel.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Dow drops more than 500 points on tariff and trade worries

article U.S. stocks dropped sharply in another dizzying day of trading on Thursday as investors feared that Trump administration tariffs on imported steel and aluminum will lead to retaliation from other countries. The Dow Jones industrial average lost more than 500 points. Continue Reading Below President Donald Trump told industry […]