Uncertainty Grips Markets As Investors Agonize

President Donald Trump delayed tariffs on additional goods, postponing levies on imports from Mexico and Canada that comply with his 2020 free trade agreement.

The market remains at the mercy of frequent, often contradictory updates from the White House regarding tariff strategy.

This marks the latest reprieve after a one-month exemption for autos, Callum Keown reported for Barron’s Daily.

However, the stock market’s reaction was unexpected—it didn’t respond positively. The S&P 500 fell 1.8% and has now moved more than 1%—in either direction—for six straight days, the longest such streak since November 2020.

Over that period, the index has declined 3.7%, dropping on four out of six trading days.

At this point, companies, consumers, and investors may be experiencing tariff fatigue—what they really want is clarity on Trump’s trade policy so they can plan their investments, spending, and portfolio adjustments accordingly.

Instead, the market remains at the mercy of frequent, often contradictory updates from the White House regarding tariff strategy.

With a series of key deadlines approaching in early April, clarity seems elusive. Investors will now likely shift their focus to the real-world impact of these policies. Friday’s jobs report will be closely watched, while the overall health of U.S. consumers is expected to become a major theme in the coming weeks.