Live Vanguard IT ETF (VGT): Markets Blink on Tariff Uncertainty in Mixed Showing
Key Points
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Tech stocks remain under pressure, including a 2% decline in Apple stock, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is eking out a slight gain.
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The markets are feeling the uncertainty from the tariffs as details remain scant.
- Investors rethink ‘hands off’ investing and decide to start making real money
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Markets Await Ford's Earnings
The markets succumbed to selling pressure, putting an end to an historic multi-session winning streak. Stocks appear to be holding out for further details on trade negotiations, which the White House has revealed could come in the coming days – not be soon enough for these markets. All eyes are on Ford (NYSE: F) as the automaker gears up to report its quarterly results this afternoon. Industry peer General Motors (NYSE: GM) reported its quarterly results last month, scrapping its profit guidance due to tariff uncertainty. Here’s how the major indices finished the trading day:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down 69.52 (-0.17%)
Nasdaq Composite: Down 132.40 (-0.74%)
S&P 500: Down 36.79 (-0.66%)
Tariffs, Tax Cuts and Deregulation
Mag 7 stocks remain mixed, with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOGL) gaining while Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) remains under pressure since last week’s earnings results. The Trump Administration’s latest target is Hollywood as he poses a 100% tariff on film imports, taking stocks like Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) lower by 1.3%.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is speaking to global investors today about the president’s economic agenda, which in addition to tariffs encompasses tax cuts and deregulation. Bessent’s remarks come as the markets await further details on tariff negotiations with key U.S. trade partners.
Winners and Losers
Airline stock Delta (NYSE: DAL) is up 3% on the day, while United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAL) is tacking on 2.7%. Bloomberg published a report suggesting Americans are willing to pay for higher-priced flights rather than settle for mediocrity from budget airlines.
EQT (NYSE: EQT) is rising nearly 3% after earnings and a dividend announcement.
Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) is tacking on 2.8% today.
Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) is getting punished with a nearly 10% decline today on a quarterly revenue miss.
Zimmer Biomet (NYSE: ZBH) is falling 9% after lowering its profit outlook due to tariff-related impacts.
The markets ran out of steam after last week’s rally but have come off their worst levels of the session. With tech stocks pressuring the Nasdaq Composite lower, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has managed to eke out a slight gain while the S&P 500 remains modestly lower. The Vanguard IT ETF is down fractionally this morning, weighed down by its top holding, Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) with a 3.1% decline.
On Wall Street, Morgan Stanley has reiterated its “overweight” rating on Apple stock. Wall Street firm TD Cowen has cautioned in a note that higher prices from tariffs will be reflected in May’s inflation data.
The Federal Reserve convenes this week to set the direction of short-term interest rates while the tone of Chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks will be key. This week will see quarterly earnings results from the likes of Palantir Technologies (Nasdaq: PLTR), Ford Motor (NYSE: F) and Diamondback Energy (Nasdaq: FANG). Meanwhile, last week’s winner, Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX), is under pressure after President Trump threw in fresh tariffs on foreign-made films.
Here’s a look at the performance as of morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 31.43 (+0.11%)
Nasdaq Composite: Down 93.35 (-0.53%)
S&P 500: Down 21.12 (-0.36%)
Market Movers
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-B) is down 6% but maintains a $1.1 trillion market cap as Warren Buffett prepares to pass the reins to his successor Greg Abel at the end of the year.
Footwear stock Skechers (NYSE: SKX) is going private, welcoming a private equity takeover by 3G Capital for $63 per share and catapulting the stock higher by 25% today.
Jefferies remains cautious on Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), reiterating its “hold” rating while emphasizing a mix of tech innovation and scalability themes.
Mizuho analysts are bullish on Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE), upgrading the stock to an “outperform” rating from “neutral” on an attractive risk/reward profile. Shares are 3.5% higher today.
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