Wall Street Rallies as Tech Leads, But Trade War and Inflation Fears Loom

The S&P 500 surged Friday, led by tech stocks, but still marked its fourth straight weekly loss amid trade war concerns and a sharp drop in consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones gained 674 points (1.7%), the S&P 500 rose 2%, and the NASDAQ climbed 2.6%.

NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) jumped over 5%, aiming to break a three-week losing streak. Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) soared 13% on strong Q4 results, while Semtech (NASDAQ: SMTC) surged 21% after upbeat Q1 guidance.

Consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level since November 2022, with the University of Michigan’s index dropping to 57.9 from 64.7, well below expectations. Inflation fears intensified as one-year inflation expectations spiked to 4.9%, marking three consecutive months of sharp increases. Long-term inflation expectations also jumped to 3.9%, the biggest monthly rise since 1993.

Trade war concerns escalated after former President Donald Trump threatened a 200% tariff on European alcoholic beverages, retaliating against the EU’s 50% tariff on American whiskey. Investors worry this could fuel inflation and slow economic growth.

Meanwhile, a government shutdown appears to have been averted as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer backed a Republican-crafted funding bill.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) rose 3.9% after reports it plans to launch a more affordable Model Y in China to defend its market share. The EV giant has faced challenges, including a 30% stock decline this month, backlash over Elon Musk’s Dogecoin involvement, and protests at dealerships. Concerns also persist over trade war-related tariffs impacting Tesla’s business.

With inflation worries mounting, Federal Reserve hawkishness, and trade tensions intensifying, market volatility is expected to remain high.