New York City, USA – Stock futures saw a boost on Sunday as investors anticipated whether the market could build on recent gains in the upcoming week. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 182 points, representing a 0.4% increase. S&P 500 futures also climbed by 0.5%, while Nasdaq 100 futures were up by 0.6%.
After a much-needed positive week, where the S&P 500 ended in the green and broke a streak of four consecutive weekly losses, investors remain cautious about the potential impact of reciprocal tariffs set to begin on April 2nd. These tariffs, initiated by President Donald Trump, target countries imposing duties on U.S. imports. Despite concerns about a possible economic slowdown, Bank of America believes that stocks are ready for a rebound due to several factors including cleared hurdles in positioning, reset sentiment, and positive flow trends.
President Trump’s recent remarks hinting at potential flexibility in his tariff plans provided some relief to investors. Though he did not mention specific exemptions, there are expectations that the tariffs may have a more limited scope and exclude certain industry-specific duties, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy and fears of economic instability have been compounded by declining consumer sentiment data. However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s reassurance that any negative impact from the tariffs is likely to be short-term has offered some comfort to investors.
Looking ahead, investors will be closely watching the release of consumer confidence data on Tuesday, followed by initial weekly jobless claims figures on Thursday. This data, along with ongoing trade policy developments, will continue to shape market sentiment in the coming days. As the market remains sensitive to news and economic indicators, investors are bracing for potential fluctuations while hoping for sustained positive momentum in the weeks ahead.