Real-Time Stock Market UpdatesMarket Indexes Surge in Massive Relief Rally
The U.S. stock market experienced a dramatic turnaround today as investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s unexpected decision to pause most of his recently implemented “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days. This announcement, which came late Wednesday, triggered one of the most significant relief rallies in recent market history.
As of the latest trading session on Thursday, April 10, 2025, major indexes are showing remarkable performance:
– The S&P 500 is trading at 5,456.90, having surged 9.52% on Wednesday in its best day since October 2008. The index has now recovered 12.86% from its recent low but remains 3.7% below its April 2 close.
– The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2,962.86 points (7.87%) to 40,608.45 on Wednesday, marking its best day in five years.
– The Nasdaq Composite soared 12.2% to 17,124.97 yesterday, posting its best day since January 2001 and its second-best day in history.
– The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 8.7% to 1,913.16.
However, futures markets are indicating a potential pullback in today’s session as investors digest the implications of Trump’s policy shift, with S&P futures down approximately 1.7% and Nasdaq futures down about 2% in pre-market trading.
Trump’s Tariff Policy Reversal
The market’s dramatic rally comes in response to President Trump’s unexpected announcement that he would pause most of his new reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, with the notable exception of China. This decision represents a significant reversal from his previous stance, which had sent markets into a tailspin over the past week.
Key points of Trump’s tariff announcement include:
– A 90-day pause on most reciprocal tariffs that went into effect on April 9
– The 10% baseline tariff on all global imports remains in place
– Tariffs on Chinese imports have been increased from 104% to 125%
Market analysts suggest this reversal indicates that market pressure may have influenced the president’s decision. “You’ve had a relief rally after the realisation that market pressure is something that resonates with the U.S. president,” noted George Lagarias, chief economist at Forvis Mazars.
Tech Stocks Lead the Recovery
The “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks, which had collectively lost over $2 trillion in market value since Trump’s initial tariff announcement on April 2, led yesterday’s market surge:
– Nvidia (NVDA) jumped 18.72% to $114.33
– Tesla (TSLA) soared 22.69% to $272.20
– Apple (AAPL) gained 15.33% to $198.85
– Microsoft (MSFT) recovered significantly after falling nearly 1% in previous sessions
– Alphabet (GOOGL) rose 7.9% and reiterated plans to spend about $75 billion this year on data center capacity
These tech giants had been particularly vulnerable to tariff concerns due to their global supply chains and international revenue exposure. For example, 90% of Apple’s iPhones are made in China, many Tesla components are sourced internationally, and Nvidia products are imported from Mexico and Taiwan.
Upcoming Market Events to Watch
Several key economic events and earnings releases could significantly impact market direction in the coming days:
1. Consumer Price Index (CPI) Data – The Labor Department will release March CPI data today at 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists expect inflation to slow to 2.6%, down from 2.8% in February. However, if the reading exceeds expectations, it could trigger market volatility due to stagflation concerns.
2. Major Bank Earnings – JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo are scheduled to report quarterly financial results before market open on Friday, April 11. Their commentary on consumer financial health will be closely watched for signs of economic deterioration.
3. BlackRock Earnings – The world’s largest asset manager will also report on April 11. CEO Larry Fink recently commented, “Most CEOs I talk to would say we are probably in a recession right now,” making his latest assessment particularly significant.
4. Corporate Earnings Season – Today marks a busy day for earnings releases, with 354 companies scheduled to report results, according to Yahoo Finance’s earnings calendar.
Market Volatility and Investor Sentiment
Despite yesterday’s rally, market volatility remains elevated. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), often called Wall Street’s “fear gauge,” briefly surpassed 50 earlier this week—a level it has only closed above twice before: during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008-2009 financial crisis. After Trump’s announcement, the VIX sank 30%.
CNN’s Fear and Greed Index has pointed solidly to “Extreme Fear” in recent days, nearing the lowest point on its scale, indicating persistent investor anxiety despite the relief rally.
Global Market Response
The positive sentiment has extended to global markets:
– European shares are up significantly, with the pan-continental STOXX 600 rising 5.3%, on track for its biggest one-day gain since March 2020
– Japan’s Nikkei advanced more than 8%
– A broader gauge of Asia-Pacific stocks excluding Japan rose 4.4%
– China’s CSI300 blue-chip index rose 1.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index advanced 2%
Outlook and Analyst Perspectives
While markets have responded positively to Trump’s tariff pause, analysts remain cautious about the longer-term implications:
– JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned in a recent shareholder letter that tariffs “will likely increase inflation and are causing many to consider a greater probability of recession.”
– BlackRock CEO Larry Fink criticized the reciprocal tariffs as “very inflationary and destabilizing the economy.”
– Martin Whetton, head of financial markets strategy at Westpac, noted that investors are questioning “the long-term credibility of the administration having flip-flopped on the largest of their policies, tariffs.”
As markets digest the implications of Trump’s policy shift and await critical economic data, investors should remain vigilant for potential volatility in the days ahead. The 90-day tariff pause provides temporary relief, but uncertainty about future trade policies continues to cast a shadow over market sentiment.