🧪 Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Is Here

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Good Morning!

Q1 ended with a bang (read: nosedive), and now all eyes are on Liberation Day as Trump preps to roll out tariffs like it’s Black Friday for trade wars. S&P got smoked, Nasdaq got torched, and Tesla… well, let’s just say it’s doing its best impersonation of a penny stock lately.

Crypto’s getting weird (hi, GameStop), gold is flexing, and the dollar’s just chilling while everyone else panics. Big names are reporting soon, but today’s spotlight belongs to the Rose Garden—because nothing says “market stability” like surprise global levies.

Buckle up. It’s only Wednesday.

Let’s get into it 👇

🌡 TradingLab’s Headline Roundup

Stock Markets

• S&P 500 Sinks 4.6% in Q1 for Worst Showing Since 2022 as Trump Tariffs Spook Traders

• Nasdaq Composite Dives 10% in Q1 as Mag 7 Stocks Get Battered Amid Tariff Worries

• Tesla Stock in Reverse as Traders Brace for Deliveries After Bitter 31% Q1 Loss

• 2 Growth Stocks Down 50% to Buy Right Now

• 23 Nvidias. 36 Amazons. One Big Opportunity.
  Gain insight into the future of tech with The Motley Fool’s exclusive report. The opportunity is big, but your window to act is small.

Crypto

• GameStop finishes $1.5B raise to add Bitcoin to its balance sheet

• EVM-Compatible Vana Blockchain Introduces New Token Standard for Data-Backed Digital Assets

• Eric Trump Backs New Bitcoin Mining Venture With Hut 8, Plans to Go Public

• Sony Singapore Now Lets Shoppers Pay in USDC Through Crypto.com

• Why Trump's Tariffs Could Actually Be Good for Bitcoin

Forex/Commodities

• US Dollar Steady Near 104 as FX Traders Brace for D-Day: Tariffs on “All Countries”

• Euro Consolidates Near $1.08 as Traders Await Key Tariff Update

• Gold Prices Ease After Legendary Quarter Adds Gains Not Seen Since 1986

Upcoming Earnings

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📅 WED.

• UniFirst (UNF)

• RH (RH)

📅 THURS.

• Acuity (AYI)

• Guess? (GES)

📅 FRI.

• Greenbrier (GBX)

📈 What’s Moving Markets Today?

🔥 "Liberation Day" Looms: Markets Hold Their Breath

Today’s the day. President Trump is set to drop his much-hyped new batch of tariffs during a Rose Garden event at 4:00 PM ET, and markets are nervously shuffling their feet. It's being dubbed "Liberation Day", but depending on who you ask, it’s either economic patriotism or a fast track to recession.

📌 What to Know:

• Immediate Tariff Hit: As reported by Investing.com, these new duties are expected to kick in right after the announcement, with 25% auto tariffs already scheduled to follow on April 3.

• Layered On Top: These aren’t stand-alone tariffs. They’ll stack on existing levies on Chinese goods, steel, and aluminum. It’s tariff lasagna out here.

• Economic Ripples: While Trump argues it’s about fairness, jobs, and revenue, economists aren’t all cheering. Many warn this could push inflation higher, weigh on growth, and possibly tip the U.S. into a recession.

Even businesses are throwing up their hands. The lack of detail and constant policy shifts are causing spending and hiring hesitations across the board.

📉 Futures Dip Slightly Ahead of the Big Reveal

U.S. stock futures are basically hugging the flatline this morning, like a dog waiting to see if the fireworks are fun or terrifying.

📌 Market Snapshot (as of early AM):

• Dow Futures: Down 64 points (-0.2%)

• S&P 500 Futures: Off 14 points (-0.2%)

• Nasdaq 100 Futures: Slipping 62 points (-0.3%)

It’s not just the tariffs weighing on traders' minds. Data from Tuesday showed manufacturing activity contracted and job openings dipped slightly. In short, things aren’t falling apart, but they’re not exactly flexing either.

✨ Gold Still Glowing—But Pulls Back Slightly

Gold’s been riding a rocket lately, hitting record highs thanks to a full-on rush to safe-haven assets. Today, though, it’s taking a breath, just like the rest of us.

📌 Gold Glance:

• Spot Gold: Down 0.2% to $3,118.73/oz (Investing.com)

• 4-Day Rally: Traders have been piling in as tariff drama and global uncertainty fuel demand.

• Volatility Spikes: As expected, price swings are up while investors brace for today’s announcement.

💵 Dollar Steady, Bitcoin Tiptoes Higher

The U.S. dollar is staying firm, maybe even smug, amid the trade tension build-up. Bitcoin, meanwhile, is cautiously inching upward after a rough Q1.

📌 Currency Check:

• Dollar Index: Flat, as traders await clarity on reciprocal tariffs.

• Bitcoin: Mildly up after weeks of wild swings. Still nowhere near bullish territory.

According to CNBC, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Trump plans to go hard with reciprocal tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, with some duties possibly covering 20% of all imports.

So yeah… traders are very much in wait-and-see mode here.

🛢 Oil Slips as Traders Tread Lightly

Oil prices are wobbling lower as the market weighs Trump’s tariff plans alongside upcoming OPEC+ production talks. It's a double-edged sword: potential geopolitical supply disruptions vs. demand destruction from a tariff-induced slowdown.

📌 What’s Driving Oil Today:

• Mideast Moves: Trump has threatened Iran and Russia with sanctions, juicing oil prices recently.

• OPEC+ Watch: The cartel is reportedly considering a production increase.

• Crude Reality: Investors are wary that economic fallout from tariffs could ultimately curb demand.

🎢 The Takeaway: Stay Nimble

Trump’s "Liberation Day" might sound like a superhero sequel, but for markets, it’s shaping up more like a suspense thriller. There’s a lot riding on what he announces, and even more on how global players respond.

Whether this is the beginning of a bold economic era or the spark that lights a stagflation fire remains to be seen.

For now, it’s all about defense: gold, cash, and caffeine.

Stay ahead, stay informed, and most importantly, stay profitable.

‘til next time,

TradingLab