US markets experienced a wild April, capped by a key data release showing the economy contracted last quarter. The S&P 500 and Dow notched a seven-day winning streak, but closed out the month in the red for the third consecutive month. The Nasdaq, which entered a bear market in early April, managed to eke out a gain of 0.85% across the month.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs have injected enormous uncertainty into businesses and shaken consumer confidence. Despite initial losses, stocks pared some gains as new data showed inflation slowed in March and the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge cooled. However, Trump’s tariffs are expected to push up prices again.
The stock market during Trump’s second term recorded the third-worst performance during the first 100 days of any presidential term in US history. Investors are trying to assess whether the United States will enter or avoid a recession in the coming months.
Other data released showed that companies slowed hiring this month, with the private sector adding 62,000 jobs in April, down significantly from adding 147,000 jobs in March. This has left investors wondering if Trump’s trade policy might continue to impact the economy and markets.
The market volatility has tested the Trump administration’s resolve on tariffs, with some experts suggesting they may back down due to market pressure. However, others argue that the desire to reorganize the global trading system is deep-rooted and will not be easily swayed by market events.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/30/investing/us-stock-market/index.html