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Trump's trade ship wreck: Any saviours?

Trump's trade ship wreck: Any saviours?

Mint3 days ago

US President Donald Trump has been pitching his tariffs as a way of making the American economy great again. Going by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) latest forecast, though, its growth is set to slow, not accelerate, as a direct consequence of his policies.
Also Read: Trump's tariffs: Turfed out but raring to return
US economic growth is projected to dip to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026 from 2.8% in 2024. Global growth, too, would be set back to 2.9% this year, down from 3.3% in 2024. With the existing trade order in chaos, countries need to urgently strike deals.
Also Read: A trade arrangement that leaves out the US could trump Trump's tariffs
Otherwise, the repercussions would be severe. 'Weakened economic prospects will be felt around the world, with almost no exception," the OECD said. While Trump has stepped back from his country-specific 'Liberation Day" tariffs, which have also run into a legal challenge, average tariffs even after the rollback stand substantially higher than earlier.
Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | America's credit rating slip: How serious?
Worse still, where rates will settle remains uncertain, which hurts business and consumer confidence. Regardless, Trump seems keen to push ahead. Will the federal government's non-executive branches intervene against his self-damaging tariffs? They mustn't forget why they exist.

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‘Ready to facilitate for a reasonable fee': Russia mocks Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud, offers 'peace talks' & business haven for Tesla CEO
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Time of India

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  • Time of India

‘Ready to facilitate for a reasonable fee': Russia mocks Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud, offers 'peace talks' & business haven for Tesla CEO

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Trump, Musk, and the Big Beautiful Breakup
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  • Time of India

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US stock market rallies as Dow jumps 550 points, S&P 500 tops 6,000, Nasdaq surges and Tesla leads tech comeback after strong jobs report
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Time of India

time34 minutes ago

  • Time of India

US stock market rallies as Dow jumps 550 points, S&P 500 tops 6,000, Nasdaq surges and Tesla leads tech comeback after strong jobs report

US stock market surges as Dow rallies 500 points on strong jobs report as S&P 500 retakes 6,000 in tech-powered comeback- The Dow rallies 500 points today after a stronger-than-expected May jobs report reassured traders that the U.S. economy is still chugging along even as tariff talks and interest-rate worries linger. The blue-chip index jumped 510 points, or 1.2%. The S&P 500 touched the 6,000 mark for the first time since late February, also up 1.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.4%. Wall Street's bounce was driven by a 3 percent rebound in Tesla — a sharp U-turn from yesterday's 14 percent slide that followed CEO Elon Musk's public spat with President Donald Trump on social media. Big tech names such as Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Apple all traded firmly in the green, adding momentum to Friday's rally. Below, we unpack the numbers, the catalysts, and the lingering risks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all surge Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 555 points , or about 1.3% , finishing near 42,841 — its best single-day gain in nearly two months. S&P 500 jumped 1.2% and broke through the 6,000 mark for the first time ever, closing around 6,012 . Nasdaq Composite climbed roughly 1.4% , powered by mega-cap tech stocks and a strong bounce in Tesla. It was a strong finish to a choppy week, with investors embracing optimism after several days of uncertainty. Strong jobs data adds fuel The U.S. labor market remains impressively resilient: Live Events May non-farm payrolls came in at 139,000 jobs added , topping economists' expectations. Unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% . The data signals continued economic strength but also reinforces that the Federal Reserve may not cut interest rates before September — a shift traders seem increasingly comfortable with. Tech comeback driven by Tesla Tech stocks came roaring back after taking a hit earlier this week, largely due to the Trump–Musk spat. Tesla shares jumped between 3.6% and 4.5% , helping restore confidence across the sector. Other tech leaders also bounced back: Nvidia : +1.6% Apple : +1.9% Amazon , Alphabet , and Meta all closed solidly in the green. The rally was broad-based, but tech clearly led the charge. Other market movers Russell 2000 (small-cap stocks) gained 1.3% , showing strong participation across the board. VIX (Volatility Index) dropped to a two-month low, signaling calm returning to markets. Sentiment was also lifted by signs of cooling U.S.–China trade tensions, another risk factor that has recently weighed on markets. Why did the Dow rally 500 points after the May jobs report? The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, topping the Dow Jones consensus of 125,000 but easing from April's downwardly revised 147,000. Unemployment stayed at 4.2 percent. 'Today's hiring beat shows the labor market is holding up in spite of slower growth elsewhere,' noted Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise, in a CNBC interview. How did the S&P 500 climb back above 6,000 so quickly? Fresh jobs data calmed fears of an imminent slowdown, prompting investors to scoop up stocks that looked oversold after a choppy week. At its intraday peak, the broad-market benchmark sat less than 3 percent below February's record close, putting a milestone rebound in sight. Tesla stock rebounds nearly 6% as Trump-Musk tensions cool and investors look ahead to robotaxi launch Tesla stock (TSLA) staged a powerful comeback on Friday, climbing 5.85% to close at $301.35 , after a dramatic sell-off the day before. The rebound came as tensions between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump appeared to ease, and investors shifted their focus back to Tesla's big-picture innovations — particularly its highly anticipated robotaxi rollout coming later this month. Price : US $301.35 Change : +$16.65 (+5.85%) intraday Today's range : $291.43 – $301.96 Volume : 74.7 million shares traded What's driving Tesla's recovery? 1. Musk-Trump feud cools off Tesla had plunged over 14% on Thursday after reports of strained relations between Elon Musk and Trump, which raised concerns about political and regulatory risks. But with the heat now seemingly dialed down, the stock surged, clawing back a large chunk of those losses. 2. Eyes on the robotaxi launch Investors are increasingly focused on Tesla's next major catalyst: the debut of its robotaxi service , expected around mid-June. The move could open up a new revenue stream and solidify Tesla's place at the forefront of autonomous tech. 3. Technical bounce After falling below key support levels, Tesla stock rebounded sharply from oversold territory. Friday's rally brought it back above $300 — a psychologically important level for many traders. 4. High volume, high interest More than 74 million shares traded hands Friday, signaling strong buying interest and a renewed sense of optimism. Analyst take: cautious optimism Despite Friday's big move, analysts remain somewhat divided. The average 12-month price target still sits around $283–$290 , suggesting the stock could drift slightly lower from current levels. However, many remain bullish on Tesla's long-term growth potential, especially as it moves beyond EVs into AI and autonomous transport. Are tech giants like Tesla, Nvidia, Meta, and Apple leading the charge again? Yes. Tesla jumped more than 3 percent as bargain hunters stepped in after Thursday's plunge. Nvidia, Meta, and Apple each gained over 1 percent, restoring tech leadership and accounting for a big slice of today's index advance. What does the stronger jobs report mean for the Federal Reserve's June 17–18 meeting? With job growth still positive, traders scaled back bets on an immediate rate cut. Futures now imply the Fed will hold its policy rate steady while it waits for clearer signals on how fresh tariffs and cooling service-sector data feed into inflation. Could summer tariffs and weaker services data stall this rebound? Possibly. Weekly jobless claims ticked higher, ADP reported just 37,000 private-sector hires in May, and the ISM's services gauge slipped unexpectedly. Saglimbene cautions that tariff impacts 'should start showing up in the data over the summer,' meaning markets 'are holding judgment on growth and profitability for the next couple quarters.' FAQs: What caused the Dow to rally 500 points today? Stronger-than-expected May jobs data boosted investor confidence. Why did the S&P 500 hit 6,000 again? A tech stock rebound and solid labor market pushed it above 6,000.

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