Markets News, April 8, 2025: Stocks Close Sharply Lower as High Volatility Persists Amid Concerns About Tariffs (2025)

S&P 500 Down 12% Since Trump Tariffs Announced

21 hr 31 min ago

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average extended their losing streaks to four sessions on Tuesday as concerns about President Trump's tariff plans intensified.

The S&P 500 has lost 12.1% since Trump announced his intention late last Wednesday to impose wide-ranging tariffs on U.S. trading partners. The Dow has given up 10.8% over that four-session stretch.

The Nasdaq Composite, which managed to eke out slight gains on Monday before falling sharply today, has plunged 13.3% over the past four trading days.

These Were the Big S&P 500 Movers on Tuesday

21 hr 47 min ago

Decliners

• Shares of Albemarle (ALB), the world's largest lithium producer, suffered the steepest daily decline of any S&P 500 stock, plunging 12.6%. Tuesday's tumble came after analysts at UBS slashed their price target on the stock, suggesting elevated costs and potentially soft demand could hold back Albemarle's earnings.
• Solar technology firm Enphase Energy (ENPH)saw its shares plunge 11.2% amid pressure on the broader renewable energy sector as concerns about trade and global economic growth cloud the outlook for solar and other energy technologies.
• Shares of intelligent power and sensor chipmaker On Semiconductor (ON) fell 8.9%. The move lower followed a price target cut by analysts at KeyBanc, who pointed to softness in Onsemi's automotive end markets. The KeyBanc team pointed to a deterioration in demand from Tesla (TSLA), along with inventory reductions by other carmakers in the U.S. and Europe.

Advancers

• Health insurance stocks received a boost after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced government payments to Medicare insurers wouldrise more than previously expected. Humana (HUM) shares surged 10.7%, logging the top performance in the S&P 500. Shares of Aetna operator CVS Health (CVS) gained 5.9%, with the pharmacy giant alsobrightening its full-year outlookand naming a new CFO.
• Shares of defense contractors also pushed higher after the White House pledged to spend approximately $1 trillion on defense in fiscal 2026. Shares of aerospace and defense firms Lockheed Martin (LMT), General Dynamics (GD), and RTX (RTX) all posted gains of more than 2%.

• Constellation Energy (CEG)shares advanced 2.9% on Tuesday, clawing back a portion of their losses over the past week. Along with other nuclear generators, the company has drawn attention for its opportunity to power artificial intelligence data centers. Last year, Constellationsigned an agreementto provide electricity to a Microsoft (MSFT) data center by restoring a unit of the Three Mile Island nuclear facility.

-Michael Bromberg

Apple Loses Title of World's Most Valuable Company

21 hr 58 min ago

Apple (AAPL) lost its title as the world's most valuable public company on Tuesday after the stock slid the day before steep tariffs on Chinese imports werescheduled to take effect.

Apple shares fell 5% on Tuesday, pushing the iPhone maker'smarket capitalizationto less than $2.6 trillion, compared with software maker Microsoft's (MSFT) $2.65 trillion.

Apple shares have lost over a fifth of their value in the four sessions since President Trump announced he would increase the tariff rate on Chinese goods by 34% starting April 9. After China responded last week with its own34% tariffon U.S. goods, Trumpsaid he would raise tariffson Chinese goods an additional 50%.

Apple, which assembles an estimated 90% of its products in China, won exemptions during the first Trump administration's U.S.-China trade war. It's had no such luck this time around.

Worries about the company's reliance on China have made its stock the worst-performing of theMagnificent Sevenin the last week.

Tesla (TSLA), the group's second-worst performer, has declined about 21.5% since Trump's tariff announcement. Amazon (AMZN), Nvidia (NVDA), and Meta Platforms (META) have all declined between 12% and 13% over the same period, while Alphabet (GOOG) and Microsoft have fallen 7.7% and 7.2%, respectively.

Apple's slump has wiped nearly $775 billion off the company's market value. That's more than Tesla's market cap and greater than those of all but seven U.S. companies (including Apple itself).

-Colin Laidley

Should You Rebalance Your 401(k) Right Now

22 hr 6 min ago

As Americans with 401(k) retirement plans lose thousands of dollars due to a downturn in major stock indexes, financial planners say 401(k) savers should focus on diversification in their portfolio.

Some Americans on social media have said their retirement accounts have lost tens of thousands of dollars since tariffs were announced.It's left many asking if they should rebalance their 401(k)s.

The answer—as it often is when it comes to retirement funds—depends on your situation.

The majority of savers who are further from retirement should be able to recover the money they lost once the market returns to normal. However, more than 4.1 million Americans who will turn 65, the conventional retirement age, this yearmay experience some interruptionswhen they try to enter retirement.

"You have time to recover from these downturns and generally, whether it's quickly or it takes some time, the markets tend to move upward," said Rob Williams, director of financial planning and wealth management at Charles Schwab. "If you're a disciplined investor, or diversified in your portfolio, as most people would be, and you're not retiring in the next two to four years, [you] should not panic."

In the midst of stock market volatility, financial planners said 401(k) savers of any age should not completely change their investment plan or portfolio just because of market swings. However, they do advise reviewing 401(k) investments and potentially rebalancing portfolios to be more diverse.

"Some other international markets have actually performed better in this climate," Williams said. "So this is a nice reminder and a highlight that in your stock portfolio, global diversification helps."

Additionally, financial planners say this could be the time to build up your investments outside of the stock market. That could involve taking advantage of youremployer match, buying real estate to build upequity, or placing money intohigh-yield savings accounts.

-Elizabeth Guevara

BofA Sees Buying Opportunity in Apple Stock After Sell-Off

23 hr 5 min ago

Apple's (AAPL) stock has beenhit hardsince the Trump administration unveiledsweeping tariffslast week, but Bank of America analysts said that could present an opportunity for investors to buy it at a discount.

In a note to clients Tuesday, the analysts reiterated a “buy” rating and price target of $250, slightly above the average target of $242 compiled by Visible Alpha.

The stock fell 5% to around $172 on Tuesday and has lost more than one-fifth of its value since last Wednesday's tariff announcement amid worries about how the import taxes could affect the iPhone maker.

Despite steeptariffs on China, where Apple manufactures about 90% of its hardware, the company still has “many options to mitigate downside risk,” BofA said. Those options could include sourcing moreiPhones from India, raising prices, and introducing new, higher-cost products, the analysts said.

"In our view, the pullback presents a particularly enhanced buying opportunity for investors to own a high-quality name,” the analysts said. They added Apple has a stable cash flow, and could stand to benefit from greater adoption of artificial intelligence features on its devices.

Apple is also reportedly seeking an exemption from the tariffs, like the one it received during the first Trump administration. JPMorgan analysts said last week that if Apple doesn't get an exemption, it would face pressure to raise prices to offset the tariff impact.

-Andrew Kessel

Stocks Swing Wildly for Second Straight Day

23 hr 18 min ago

The Dow Jones Industrial Average swung about 2,300 points from his high Tuesday morning to its late-afternoon low, marking the second consecutive day of enormous moves for the blue-chip index.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite turned in similarly volatile performances for the second day running. Each jumped more than 4% this morning, before falling more than 3% in late trading.

On Monday, the S&P 500 fell as much as 4.7% and rose as much as 3.4% before closing the session down about 1%. The Dow, for its part, jumped nearly 2,600 points from its low for the day to its high, all within the first hour of trading.

Has the Stock Rout Run Its Course?

April 08, 2025 04:29 PM EDT

Analysts are divided on the odds the tariff sell-off has run its course.

"I think the potential severity of the negative outcomes is not fully priced into the market, so it makes sense to stay cautious and wait for more information,” wrote Chris Buchbinder, principal investment officer of the Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, in a note on Monday afternoon.

While the White House is in the middle of negotiations that could lower tariff rates from the levels announced by Trump last week, “the grandeur with which this policy was announced makes it seem unlikely that a meaningful portion of it gets reversed quickly,” said Buchbinder. (Trump dubbed April 2, the day of his tariff announcement, “Liberation Day.”)

Others were more optimistic that there’s good news on the horizon. “We believe that many of the announced tariffs last week will be negotiated down. Meaning the fundamentals of this market and economy, when the dust settles, may be better than what is currently being reflected in asset prices,” wrote Marc Zabicki, Chief Investment Officer at LPL Financial, in a note on Tuesday.

He and his colleague Adam Turnquist, LPL’s Chief Technical Strategist, saw several signs of capitulation—often taken as a sign that stocks won’t fall much further since most sellers have been shaken out—in last week’s sell-off. “Equities were being sold indiscriminately. Credit spreads widened. Investors were divesting of risk-based assets across the board,” wrote Buchbinder. And the Cboe Volatility Index, according to Turnquist, enteredbackwardation, also a possible sign of peak panic.

-Colin Laidley

Tariffs Are Hours Away from Going Into Effect

April 08, 2025 03:30 PM EDT

Talk of deals fueled speculation that hiswide-ranging and aggressive tariffswould, in the end, amount to a negotiating tactic rather than anoverturning of the post-WWII era of free trade.

The tariffs, should they stand, would likely drive up prices for U.S. consumers, given that many products are imported or built with parts or materials brought in from overseas. That would have far-reaching fallout for the economy.

Read the full article here.

-Diccon Hyatt

Bitcoin Back Below $78,000, Chip Stocks Take a Hit

April 08, 2025 02:55 PM EDT

Bitcoin slipped in Tuesday trading, dropping from morning levels as investors continued to evaluate Trump administration trade policy.

The leading cryptocurrency by market cap was recently changing hands around $77,200 near its low for the day and down from levels above $80,000 seen earlier today.

Several crypto-related stocks were trading lower in afternoon action. Strategy (MSTR), the bitcoin buyer and software company formerly known as MicroStrategy, was recently off nearly 5%. Crypto exchange Coinbase Global (COIN) was down about 2%. MARA Holdings (MARA), a bitcoin miner, slid more than 4%.

Bitcoin has generally fallen this year, taking a hit lately as investors have been wary about risk assets amiduncertainty about tariffs, stubborn inflation and economic health.

-David Marino-Nachison

RPM Stock Drops on Weaker-Than-Expected Results

April 08, 2025 02:00 PM EDT

Shares of RPM International (RPM) sank Tuesday as the specialty coatings and sealants company reported fiscal third-quarter results that came in weaker than analysts projected.

The maker of DayGlo and Rust-Oleum posted adjustedearnings per share (EPS)of $0.35 on revenue that fell 3% year-over-year to $1.48 billion. Analysts polled by Visible Alpha expected $0.48 and $1.5 billion, respectively.

"The unfavorable weather conditions we discussed in early January continued and became more widespread as the third quarter progressed," CEO Frank Sullivan said. "Unseasonably cold weather in the southern U.S. and wildfires in the west reduced demand in geographies that typically have more construction and outdoor project activity in winter months."

For the fourth quarter, RPM sees flat sales and adjustedEBITgrowth in a low-single-digit percentage range, both below expectations.

Shares fell more than 7% in recent trading, and have lost close to a fifth of their value since the start of the year, outpacing the declines of the S&P 500 over that stretch.

-Aaron Rennie

Worried About Retiring During a Slump? What Experts Say

April 08, 2025 01:01 PM EDT

If you found yourself worrying about whether last week’s stock-market drop put your retirement plans at risk, you’re not alone.

Millions of Americans turn 65 each year, after all. Knowing that, however, might not ease the pain—which likely lingers even after Monday’s trading offereda measure of respitefrom the dramatic pullbacks of Thursday and Friday. Investors are stillseeking clarity about the Trump administration’s tariff plansand their effects on markets and global economies.

Retirement experts urge caution—and a cool head—for those who see themselves a few years away from hanging up their working hats. They advise looking to reevaluate your retirement needs; shoring up savings and minding expenses; and taking time before making dramatic changes to your portfolio.

"You never know how these things are going to end,” said Marcos Segrera, wealth manager and principal at the Florida-based financial advisory firm Evensky & Katz / Foldes. “Don’t make long-term [decisions] based off short-term information.”

Investopediaasked several experts how to think about retirement planning in a volatile environment. Several suggested checking in with professional planners, who are often willing to consult with people on a one-time or hourly basis for a baseline assessment.

Read the full article here.

-Sarina Trangle

CVS Stock Pops on Medicare News, Outlook

April 08, 2025 11:27 AM EDT

CVS Health (CVS) shares jumped Tuesday after the company improved its full-year outlook and named a new chief financial officer.

The stock was also getting a big boost from the announcement late Monday that the federal goverment willpay Medicare insurers, such as CVS's Aetna, more than previously expected.'

CVS shares were about 7% higher in recent trading. The company's shares are up about 54% year-to-date, making it the best-performing stock in thesince the start of the year, after a difficult 2024.

-Andrew Kessel

Watch These Supermicro Levels as Stock Continues Surging

April 08, 2025 10:37 AM EDT

Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares jumped in early trading Tuesday, adding to an 11% surge yesterday, as investors bid up the server marker’s stock after a few days of big losses during the broader market'stariff-fueled sell-off.

Sentiment surrounding the stock likely received a boost from J.P. Morgan analysts who recently pointed out that the company would only need to increase its global prices by 4%, based on the portion of its hardware that would be affected by tariffs.

Aftergappinglower in late October, Supermicro shares oscillated within an orderlyascending channeluntil breaking down below the pattern’s lower trendline toward the end of last month.

However, despite falling to its lowest level since early February last week, the stock completed abullish engulfing patternin Monday’s trading session, potentially forming abear trap—a trading event that lures investors to sell upon a breach of majorsupportbefore the price makes a sudden move higher.

What’s more, Monday’s buying coincided with therelative strength index (RSI)rallying from a reading of around 35, the same level the indicator bottomed at in early February before the stock roughly doubled over a two-week period.

Investors should watch major overhead areas on Supermicro's chart around $48 and $63, while also monitoring vital support levels near $26 and $17.

The stock was up 6% at around $35 in recent trading.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

-Timothy Smith

Levi Strauss Says Tariff-Related Price Changes to be 'Surgical'

April 08, 2025 10:02 AM EDT

Shares of Levi Strauss (LEVI) jumped in early trading Tuesday before giving back those gains, a day after the denim giant reported better-than-expected first-quarter profit and gave a relatively upbeat outlook on the Trump administration's new tariffs.

After the bell Monday, Levi's reported quarterly adjustedearnings per share (EPS)of $0.38, above the $0.28 consensus forecast of analysts polled by Visible Alpha. The company generated $1.53 billion in revenue, in line with estimates.

Its Dockers business now is classified as "discontinued operations," as Levi's made the decision during the first quarter to pursue a sale of the brand afterlaunching a review in October.

Levi's CFO Harmit Singh said on Monday's earnings call that the company expects "minimal impact" from tariffs on its second-quarter profit margins, as much of its inventory has already been imported. Singh said the tariffs could be a "significant challenge" later this year, but he and CEO Michelle Gass said they are "fluid" and could change, according to a transcript from AlphaSense.

Gass said any pricing adjustments due to the tariffs will be "surgical." The company imports products from 20 countries into the U.S., and Gass said Levi's has created a "task force" to evaluate ways to minimize the potential impacts of tariffs.

In a note following the earnings, JPMorgan analysts upgraded Levi's stock to "overweight" from "neutral," while also trimming the stock's price target to $17 from $19. The analysts cut their price target because they believe tariffs will likely hurt profits this year, but said Levi's should be able to mitigate an estimated 75% of the cost because of changes to its business since tariffs played a role in the first Trump administration.

Levi shares were little changed in recent trading, after surging about 15% at the open. The stock has lost about 21% of its value so far this year.

-Aaron McDade

Humana Levels to Watch as Stock Surges on Medicare News

April 08, 2025 08:50 AM EDT

Humana (HUM) shares jumped in premarket trading Tuesday after the federal government said it wouldpay Medicare insurers more next year than previously expected.

Thesaid payments for 2026Medicare Advantagehealth plans run by private insurers will increase by 5.06% on average, more than the 2.83% the government initially proposed in January. The boosted rates will benefit health insurance giants such as Humana, which has grappled with rising medical expenses related to government-backed health plans.

Through Monday's close, Humana shares had lost nearly 20% over the past 12 months, weighed down by increasing medical costs,downgraded Medicare offerings, and moderating membership signups. The stock rose 18% to $300 before the bell today.

Since hitting their52-week lowlast October, Humana shares have traded within asymmetrical triangle, a chart pattern indicating a period ofconsolidationbefore the price breaks out.

The stock broke down below the pattern in Monday’s trading session before staging an impressive intradayreversalto close above its lower trendline, signaling abullishshift in investor sentiment.

Investors should watch key overhead areas on Humana's chart around $300, $336, and $383, while also monitoring an important support level near $213.

Read the full technical analysis piece here.

-Timothy Smith

Futures Point to Sharply Higher Open for Major Indexes

April 08, 2025 08:15 AM EDT

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 2.8%, indicating a gain of more than 1,000 points at the open.

S&P 500 futures were up 2.7%.

Nasdaq 100 futures gained 2.6%.