Stocks moved higher on Tuesday as investors digested a wave of corporate earnings and looked to the White House for signs of relief from burdensome auto tariffs. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added 0.3% after recovering from earlier losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led gains, up roughly 0.7% — about 300 points — as it aimed to notch its longest winning streak of the year.
Markets found support after the Trump administration announced plans to shield U.S. automakers from double charges under its existing tariff regime, stoking optimism that broader trade tensions, particularly with China, may ease.
Market Movers:
- Amazon (AMZN) -0.25%: Shares fell early after the White House condemned a reported plan to display tariff-related price hikes on its website. Officials called the alleged strategy a “hostile and political act,” though Amazon denied the reports. The stock recovered modestly following the company’s statement.
- Hims & Hers (HIMS) +25%: HIMS stock surged over 20% after Novo Nordisk announced a partnership with several telehealth providers, including Hims, to distribute its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy. The move expands access to GLP-1 drugs and strengthens Hims’ positioning in a highly lucrative pharmaceutical market.
- Royal Caribbean (RCL) -1.02%: Shares slipped despite issuing an upbeat earnings forecast and raising its full-year profit guidance. The cruise operator’s strong “Wave season” and optimistic booking outlook failed to lift the stock as investors weighed broader macroeconomic concerns.
- General Motors (GM) — Unchanged: GM beat earnings estimates but delayed its earnings call until Thursday to reflect potential policy shifts. The automaker suspended its forward 2025 guidance, citing ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and input costs.
- Coca-Cola (KO) — Flat: Coca-Cola reported earnings ahead of expectations, though the focus remained on how exposed consumer goods companies might be to trade policies. KO stock traded relatively flat as investors assessed its resilience to potential cost pressures from tariffs.
Tariff Relief Sparks Trade Hopes
The Trump administration’s move to insulate automakers from overlapping levies, such as both vehicle and steel tariffs, signaled a potential pivot in trade policy. The decision comes amid renewed efforts to de-escalate tensions with China, though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the burden of tariffs was “unsustainable for China.” Still, he did not confirm whether President Trump had recently spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The policy shift helped soothe investor concerns following Monday’s market volatility and signals that tariffs may become more targeted, rather than broadly punitive.
Consumer Confidence and Labor Market Show Strain
Not all data on Tuesday was bullish. Consumer confidence fell for a fifth consecutive month, with the Conference Board's index dropping to 86, well below expectations and its lowest level since the pandemic’s onset. The sharp decline reflects growing anxiety over trade uncertainty, rising inflation expectations, and a cooling labor market.
Adding to concerns, job openings in March dropped to 7.19 million — their lowest level in over four years. February’s figure was also revised downward, underscoring the fragility of the hiring landscape. Economists increasingly worry that the labor market may no longer serve as a buffer for slowing growth.
Trade Deficit Widens, Dragging on GDP Outlook
The U.S. goods trade deficit widened by nearly 10% in March to $162 billion, as companies raced to import goods ahead of potential tariff hikes. Imports surged $16.3 billion, while exports rose only $2.2 billion, adding to fears of a weaker first-quarter GDP print.
According to the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow model, economic growth likely contracted by 2.7% in Q1, a steep drop from the 2.4% expansion in Q4 2024. Net trade, a major component in GDP calculations, is now expected to be a substantial drag in tomorrow’s advance estimate.
Looking Ahead
Investors will keep a close eye on earnings after the bell, with Starbucks set to report. Wednesday’s key economic data includes the advance reading of first-quarter GDP, which is widely expected to confirm a sharp slowdown. All eyes remain on the Trump administration for follow-through on tariff relief, and any signals that trade tensions with China may truly be cooling.