Stock Market Today: S&P 500 in Correction Territory Amid Trade War Fears and Upcoming Events
The stock market continues to face turbulence as we enter Friday, March 14, 2025, with major indexes struggling amid renewed trade war concerns and a mix of economic data. Investors are closely watching the S&P 500, which has entered correction territory for the first time since October 2023, while also keeping an eye on upcoming market events and earnings releases.
Current Market Performance
As of the latest trading session, the major U.S. stock market indexes are showing significant declines:
– The S&P 500 (^GSPC) has fallen into correction territory, down 10.1% from its recent record high set just three weeks ago.
– The Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) is down 14.2% from its December record, reflecting a sharp pullback in technology stocks.
– The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) is nearing correction territory, down 9.3% from its all-time high in December.
Futures for these indexes are showing mixed signals for the upcoming trading day:
– S&P 500 futures are up 0.7%
– Nasdaq 100 futures have risen 0.91%
– Dow futures are showing a more modest gain of 0.51%
Trade War Fears and Economic Data
The market’s recent volatility has been largely attributed to President Donald Trump’s threat of imposing a 200% tariff on European wines and alcoholic beverages, escalating trade war concerns.
Recent economic data has been mixed:
– The Producer Price Index (PPI) for February was flat, below the expected 0.3% gain, marking a seven-month low.
– U.S. initial jobless claims fell to 220,000, below the expected 225,000, indicating a still-tight labor market.
– Eurozone industrial output rose by 0.8% in January 2025, surpassing expectations and reversing December’s decline.
Upcoming Market Events
Investors should keep an eye on these upcoming events that could impact market sentiment:
1. University of Michigan Sentiment report, due later today (March 14, 2025).
2. Earnings releases next week, including:
– General Mills (Wednesday)
– Accenture, Nike, Micron, FedEx, Lennar (Thursday)
– Carnival Cruise (Friday)
Major Stock News
Several stocks are making headlines due to significant movements or corporate announcements:
– Adobe (ADBE) shares plunged 13.8% following weak revenue guidance despite strong quarterly results.
– Intel (INTC) soared 14.6% on news of a new CEO appointment.
– Pernod Ricard and Remy Cointreau saw losses of 4.12% and 4.31% respectively, hit by Trump’s proposed tariffs on EU alcoholic products.
– Novo Nordisk outperformed with a 5% gain after receiving an upgrade.
– Allegro surged 13.6% on buyback plans.
In the tech sector, major companies like Meta Platforms (META), Apple (AAPL), Tesla (TSLA), Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), and Nvidia (NVDA) have all seen declines, contributing to the overall market downturn.
Market Outlook
The current market correction has been anticipated by some analysts, as it had been 343 trading days since the S&P 500’s last 10% pullback, nearly twice the average time between corrections.
As markets navigate through these uncertain times, investors should remain vigilant and consider the potential impacts of trade policies, economic data, and upcoming earnings reports on their investment strategies. The volatility in the stock market today underscores the importance of diversification and staying informed about global economic developments.
