Global markets today: US stock market slumps; S&P 500 sheds $2.4 trillion as Trump’s tariffs raise recession fears

Apr 4, 2025
global-markets-today:-us-stock-market-slumps;-s&p-500-sheds-$2.4-trillion-as-trump’s-tariffs-raise-recession-fears

US stock market slumped on Thursday, with the Wall Street benchmark indices ending with the largest single-day percentage losses since 2020, after US President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade tariffs stoked fears of an all-out trade war and fears of a global economic recession.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average crashed 1,679.39 points, or 3.98%, to 40,545.93, while the S&P 500 sank 274.45 points, or 4.84%, to 5,396.52. The Nasdaq Composite closed 1,050.44 points, or 5.97%, lower at 16,550.61.

The Nasdaq Composite Index saw its biggest daily fall since March 2020, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average posted their biggest daily percentage declines since June 2020. S&P 500 companies erased a combined $2.4 trillion in market value.

MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe fell 28.47 points, or 3.41%, to 807.64, setting for its biggest daily percentage fall since June 2022.

Trump’s proposed 10% tariff on most US imports, along with significantly higher reciprocal tariffs on dozens of other countries, unsettled investors. Concerns over a potential full-scale trade conflict, which could lead to a sharp global economic slowdown and heightened inflationary pressures, further weighed on market sentiment.

Stock Price Movements

Apple share price plunged 9.2%, its worst one-day performance in five years, reeling from an aggregate 54% tariff on China, the base for much of the iPhone maker’s manufacturing.

Nvidia stock price slumped 7.8%, Amazon.com shares dropped 9%, while Microsoft stock declined 2.4%, and Advanced Micro Devices shares cracked 8.90%.

Tesla stock price slumped 5.47%, and Ford Motors shares plummeted 6.01%.

Dollar, Treasury Yields

The US dollar weakened sharply, with the euro reaching a six-month high against the greenback, rising 1.74% to $1.1037. The dollar also declined 1.95% against the Japanese yen to 146.445 yen and fell 2.35% against the Swiss franc to 0.8608, Reuters reported.

Meanwhile, the yield on the benchmark U.S. 10-year Treasury note dropped 14.6 basis points to 4.049% after briefly touching 4.004%, its lowest level since November 25. The note’s yield was on track for its largest single-day decline since August 2.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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