The S&P 500 rose slightly on Friday, ending a four-week losing streak. The index gained 0.08% to close at 5,667.56. The Nasdaq Composite also rose, climbing 0.52% to 17,784.05.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 32.03 points, or 0.08%, to settle at 41,985.35. Over the week, the S&P 500 increased by 0.5%, avoiding a fifth straight week of losses. The Nasdaq saw a 0.2% weekly gain, while the Dow recorded a more substantial 1.2% rise.
Stock Market: Investors gain Rs 22.12 lakh crore in 5 days as Sensex zooms 3076 points or 4%#StockMarket https://t.co/q4E0QUcjZd
— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) March 22, 2025
Friday’s trading was marked by volatility due to the simultaneous expiration of stock options, index futures, index options, and single-stock futures, known as a “quadruple witching” day. The approaching April 2 tariff deadline set by President Donald Trump also contributed to market uncertainty. Michael Green, chief strategist at Simplify Asset Management, commented on the impact of tariff uncertainty on businesses, stating that companies are slowing down as they face confusion and uncertainty in their planning, spending, and hiring decisions.
Several companies experienced declines on Friday. Slice & Proof fell 6.5% after reducing its earnings outlook, citing weakness and uncertainty in the U.S. industrial economy.
#MarketAlert | US: S&P 500 snaps 4-week losing streak, Dow Jones up 0.1%, Nasdaq up 0.5%#UnitedStates #DowJones #Nasdaq pic.twitter.com/t7G8TmAMZp
— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) March 22, 2025
Nike shares dropped more than 5% after the company warned it might miss analysts’ expectations due to tariffs and decreased consumer confidence.
S&P 500 ends losing streak
The S&P 500 briefly entered correction territory during the recent sell-off but remained about 8% below its record high. The index attempted rallies throughout the month, including a 1% rebound on Wednesday following the Federal Reserve’s indication of potential rate cuts later in the year.
Recent spike in 6-month capex expectations was quite short-lived per @philadelphiafed Manufacturing Index … confidence has receded sharply over past few months pic.twitter.com/P11PYBWPK7
— Liz Ann Sonders (@LizAnnSonders) March 21, 2025
Megan Horneman, chief investment officer at Verdence Capital Advisors, suggested that market volatility could continue throughout 2025 due to economic uncertainties. However, she remains optimistic about the long-term outlook, expecting a more favorable market environment in the coming years. Analysts at Barclays shared similar views on the impact of tariffs on the market.
New orders (blue) and employment (orange) components in @philadelphiafed Manufacturing Index have been going opposite directions of late, with former falling sharply and latter moving up pic.twitter.com/UPQYCUxQAQ
— Liz Ann Sonders (@LizAnnSonders) March 21, 2025
The technology sector was the worst-performing S&P 500 group
Emmanuel Cau, head of European equity strategy, noted that while stocks have bounced from oversold levels, tariff anxiety will likely limit upside potential ahead of the April 2 deadline. Tesla was on track to extend its record-breaking weekly losing streak, with shares down more than 1% for the week, marking its first-ever nine-week losing streak. The electric vehicle maker’s shares have fallen nearly 39% this year amid CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political moves.
This week, the technology sector was the worst-performing S&P 500 group, down about 0.8%, marking its fifth straight weekly loss. Major laggards included consulting firms and chipmakers. Consumer and transportation stocks also faced significant challenges, with several hitting 52-week lows due to ongoing tariff concerns and broader economic uncertainty.
As the market awaits further developments, particularly regarding tariffs and their economic impact, investors remain cautious, seeking signs of stability and potential opportunities for recovery.
Photo by Oren Elbaz on Unsplash
