South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
Wall Street closed mixed on Thursday as investor sentiment improved slightly amid progress in U.S.-Japan trade talks, though caution prevailed ahead of the Good Friday holiday. The S&P 500 inched up 0.13% to 5,282.70, while the Nasdaq dipped 0.13% to 16,286.45. The Dow Jones slid 1.33% to 39,142.23, dragged down by UnitedHealth’s 22% plunge after the insurer cut its profit forecast due to surging medical costs.
Eli Lilly shares jumped 14% after reporting its experimental pill matched the performance of Ozempic in reducing blood sugar and weight. Apple rose 1.4%, rebounding from recent losses. However, broader sentiment remained cautious as traders eyed President Donald Trump's tariff strategy and comments on potential trade agreements with China and Japan. Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and called for rate cuts, raising concerns over central bank independence.
Market volumes were lighter than usual, with 14.6 billion shares traded versus a 20-day average of 19.2 billion. Energy and consumer staples led gains among S&P 500 sectors, up 2.3% and 2.2%, respectively.
Despite Thursday’s slight recovery, major indexes logged weekly losses: the S&P 500 fell 1.5%, the Nasdaq 2.6%, and the Dow 2.7%. Since April 2—when Trump announced global tariffs—the S&P 500 remains down roughly 7%.
In extended hours, Netflix gained 2.5% after beating earnings forecasts and issuing a bullish outlook. Meanwhile, Alphabet shares dropped 1.4% following a legal ruling that Google illegally dominated ad tech markets.
Jobless claims data showed stable labor conditions, but businesses remain cautious due to tariff uncertainties. As recession risks rise and investors demand clear trade outcomes, market volatility is expected to persist in the weeks ahead.
