U.S. Futures Jump as Trump Softens Tariff Plans, Easing Market Jitters.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Sunday evening after reports suggested President Donald Trump's upcoming April 2 tariff rollout will be narrower and less aggressive than previously feared, providing some relief to anxious investors.

According to Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, Trump is expected to scale back plans for sweeping sectoral tariffs. Key industries such as automobiles, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and major commodities will likely be excluded. Additionally, proposed reciprocal tariffs will be limited to about 15 countries with significant trade imbalances with the U.S., each receiving specific tariffs based on individual trade relationships.

Futures climbed in response, reflecting renewed investor confidence. S&P 500 Futures gained 0.6% to 5,751.0 points, Nasdaq 100 Futures rose 0.7% to 20,102.75, and Dow Jones Futures added 0.5% to 42,519.0 by 20:00 ET (00:00 GMT).

Wall Street had shown signs of recovery last week after dipping to six-month lows in early March, driven by concerns over inflation and trade disruptions due to tariffs. While uncertainty remains, especially regarding major U.S. trade partners, the softened approach has eased fears of economic fallout.

President Trump has dubbed April 2 “liberation day,” signaling a shift in trade policy. However, recent reversals on tariffs for Canada and Mexico hint at a more calculated strategy aimed at minimizing damage to the U.S. economy.

Markets closed mostly flat Friday, with the S&P 500 up 0.1% to 5,667.56, the NASDAQ rising 0.5% to 17,784.05, and the Dow Jones edging up 0.1% to 41,985.35.

Investors now turn their attention to upcoming Fed speeches and key economic data, including March PMI and revised Q4 GDP, for further direction on the U.S. outlook.