Stock Market Fluctuates Amid Trump's Greenland U-Turn
The US stock market experienced a rollercoaster ride of volatility on Wednesday as President Donald Trump backed down from imposing tariffs on NATO allies in a bid for control over Greenland. The S&P 500 rose by 1.16%, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.18%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged higher by 588 points, or 1.21%.
The dramatic shift in sentiment came after Trump announced he would not use force to seize Greenland, sending stocks soaring earlier in the day. However, those gains were short-lived as the European Union stated it would halt progress on implementing a key trade deal with the US.
Trump's decision was seen as a major relief for investors, who had been on edge over the past few days due to the blizzard of global trade news. The president's move also sparked concerns about the future of international trade and the potential for retaliation from European leaders.
In response to Trump's reversal, European leaders are set to meet in an extraordinary session of the European Council on Thursday to discuss possible countermeasures. The bloc has threatened to impose over $100 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on US goods if new tariffs are imposed.
Meanwhile, the impact of Trump's decision on global markets was mixed. European stocks were unevenly traded, with some indexes closing higher while others fell. In contrast, benchmark stock indexes in Italy, the UK, and France closed mixed after initially rising on Trump's Davos speech.
The market reaction also highlights the ongoing uncertainty over Trump's trade policies. The US Treasury yield, which rose on Tuesday as investors became more nervous about the president's actions, was only slightly lower on Wednesday.
Gold prices continued to rise on Wednesday, with yields on US Treasurys being only mildly affected by the news. The price of gold has surged by more than 75% since last year, driven in part by investor appetite for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty.
As investors look ahead to Thursday's European Council meeting, they will be watching closely to see how leaders respond to Trump's U-turn and whether new tensions arise in the ongoing trade dispute.
The US stock market experienced a rollercoaster ride of volatility on Wednesday as President Donald Trump backed down from imposing tariffs on NATO allies in a bid for control over Greenland. The S&P 500 rose by 1.16%, the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.18%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged higher by 588 points, or 1.21%.
The dramatic shift in sentiment came after Trump announced he would not use force to seize Greenland, sending stocks soaring earlier in the day. However, those gains were short-lived as the European Union stated it would halt progress on implementing a key trade deal with the US.
Trump's decision was seen as a major relief for investors, who had been on edge over the past few days due to the blizzard of global trade news. The president's move also sparked concerns about the future of international trade and the potential for retaliation from European leaders.
In response to Trump's reversal, European leaders are set to meet in an extraordinary session of the European Council on Thursday to discuss possible countermeasures. The bloc has threatened to impose over $100 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on US goods if new tariffs are imposed.
Meanwhile, the impact of Trump's decision on global markets was mixed. European stocks were unevenly traded, with some indexes closing higher while others fell. In contrast, benchmark stock indexes in Italy, the UK, and France closed mixed after initially rising on Trump's Davos speech.
The market reaction also highlights the ongoing uncertainty over Trump's trade policies. The US Treasury yield, which rose on Tuesday as investors became more nervous about the president's actions, was only slightly lower on Wednesday.
Gold prices continued to rise on Wednesday, with yields on US Treasurys being only mildly affected by the news. The price of gold has surged by more than 75% since last year, driven in part by investor appetite for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty.
As investors look ahead to Thursday's European Council meeting, they will be watching closely to see how leaders respond to Trump's U-turn and whether new tensions arise in the ongoing trade dispute.