U.S. stocks closed lower Thursday as investors reacted to President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of new auto tariffs, which sent shares of major automakers and parts suppliers tumbling. The S&P 500 slipped 0.33% to 5,693.31, while the Nasdaq lost 0.53% and the Dow Jones fell 0.37%.
Trump’s plan includes a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting April 3, with auto parts tariffs following on May 3. The move triggered a sharp sell-off in automakers, with General Motors (NYSE:GM) plunging over 7% and Ford (NYSE:F) dropping 3.9%. Car parts suppliers Aptiv (NYSE:APTV) and BorgWarner (NYSE:BWA) fell around 5% each.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) gained 0.4% as its domestic production may shield it from the worst of the tariff impact. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) rose 1.05%, helping to offset broader losses.
Uncertainty around Trump’s shifting trade policies continues to weigh on investor sentiment. “People are cautious not just because of the policies but because of the constant flip-flopping,” said portfolio manager Jed Ellerbroek of Argent Capital.
Eight of the 11 S&P 500 sectors closed in the red, led by energy and communication services. Despite a dip in weekly jobless claims and a Q4 GDP revision up to 2.4%, markets remained under pressure.
Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) jumped 11% after announcing the sale of its Family Dollar unit for $1 billion, earning bullish analyst upgrades.
Investors are now turning to Friday’s release of the February PCE price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, for further clues on monetary policy. So far in 2025, the S&P 500 is down 3%, while the Nasdaq has slid nearly 8%, both poised to end Q1 in the red.


U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 



