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Wall Street Sinks as Tariff Jitters and AI Volatility Rattle Investors

U.S. stocks tumbled in a broad sell‑off today, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging roughly 800 points as renewed tariff concerns and a wave of AI‑related volatility shook market confidence. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq also slid sharply, extending a week of choppy trading driven by political uncertainty and rapid shifts in tech sentiment. Investors reacted to escalating fears that new tariff measures proposed by President Trump could disrupt global supply chains and pressure corporate earnings. Tech stocks—already sensitive to policy shifts—were hit particularly hard as traders unwound positions tied to what analysts have dubbed the “AI scare trade,” a fast‑moving rotation away from high‑growth names. Market strategists noted that the combination of geopolitical tension, policy ambiguity, and stretched valuations created a perfect storm for a sharp pullback. Still, some analysts argue that the downturn reflects a recalibration rather than a fundamental shift, pointing out t...
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S&P 500 Inches Closer to Record High Amid Optimism About Fed’s Policy and Year-End Effect

 

The S&P 500 index closed just shy of a new record high on Thursday, with the broad index gaining 0.04%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.03%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%. Markets are ending 2023 on a hot streak, with all three indexes on pace for a ninth consecutive weekly gain. For the S&P 500, that would mark the longest streak since January 2004. The index is now within 0.3% of its all-time high, set in January 2022. With one trading session remaining in 2023, the S&P 500 is up 25%.

Investors are optimistic that the Federal Reserve can successfully cool inflation without inducing a major economic slowdown, which has powered the market’s recent advance. Now, some investors say the looming end of the calendar year is giving markets an extra boost. “Nobody who has caught this rally wants to incur a taxable event,” said Michael Green, chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management. “If nobody wants to sell, prices will push higher on low volume”.

The jobless claims data released by the Labor Department on Thursday indicated a gradual cooling of the economy. Initial jobless claims, considered a proxy for layoffs, were 218,000 in the week ending Dec. 23, slightly more than the 215,000 that economists expected.

Bond yields rose as prices fell, reflecting expectations of higher inflation and interest rates. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose to 3.849%, up from 3.7%.

Some investors are increasing their exposure to energy and industrial stocks, which could benefit from a strong economic recovery. Matt Dmytryszyn, chief investment officer at Telemus Capital, said his fund is boosting its position in shares of energy and industrial firms.


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