US stock indices snapped a four-week losing streak on Friday, but uncertainty over trade policy and a Federal Reserve update left investors with another volatile week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 31 points, or 0.1%, the S&P 500 index added 0.04%, and the NASDAQ Composite added 0.5%.
President Donald Trump stated that there would be “flexibility” on his plan to impose reciprocal tariffs, which are set to go into effect on April 2. This comes amid a flurry of back-and-forth over tariffs from the Trump administration.
The US central bank gave markets some relief by keeping interest rates unchanged, but raised its inflation forecast and cut the growth outlook for 2025. The Fed remains uncertain about how Trump’s tariffs will impact the US economy, especially on the inflation front.
A decision by the European Union to delay retaliatory tariffs on US whiskey bolstered hopes that talks between Brussels and Washington could avert a damaging trade conflict. FedEx, Nike, Micron Technology, and Lennar Corporation also saw significant declines in stock prices due to weaker-than-expected earnings reports.
Source: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/us-stocks-retreat-on-weak-corporate-results-fedex-cuts-outlook-3940967