Wall Street Drifts Ahead of Another Volatile Trading Week/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Wall Street opened with modest moves Monday as investors brace for a busy week filled with major earnings reports and economic data. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones edged higher after weeks of turbulent swings driven by tariff fears. Key reports from Amazon, Apple, and the jobs market loom ahead.
Wall Street Pauses Ahead of Another Volatile Trading Week: Quick Looks
- S&P 500 up 0.1%, Dow Jones gains 198 points early Monday.
- Markets steady after volatile weeks driven by tariff concerns.
- Major earnings reports ahead from Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
- Domino’s Pizza, DoorDash among companies moving after announcements.
- U.S. economic growth expected to show sharp slowdown.
- Consumer confidence and April jobs report highly anticipated.
- Treasury yields steady after earlier volatility; 10-year at 4.27%.
- European markets mixed; CAC 40 up 1%, Shanghai dips 0.2%.
Wall Street Drifts Ahead of Another Volatile Trading Week
Deep Look
Wall Street Takes a Breather Before a Pivotal Earnings and Economic Week
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks inched higher Monday as investors braced for a pivotal week packed with major corporate earnings, critical economic reports, and lingering concerns over President Donald Trump’s global tariff threats.
The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in early trading, following a roller-coaster month that saw historic swings in sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 198 points, or 0.5%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1%.
Monday’s calm open offered a temporary reprieve after weeks of whiplash moves. Investors are weighing whether Trump’s fluctuating tariff rhetoric — and its potential recessionary impact — will overshadow what had been improving sentiment earlier this year.
The S&P 500 has recovered nearly half of its earlier decline that took the benchmark index almost 20% below its record high set earlier in 2025.
Big Tech Earnings in Focus
Market attention is sharply fixed on this week’s earnings announcements from some of Wall Street’s largest and most influential companies. Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft are all set to report, and their results will carry outsized influence given their immense market capitalization.
Outside Big Tech, earnings updates from Caterpillar, Exxon Mobil, and McDonald’s will also offer critical insights into the broader economic environment.
Corporate leadership across industries has recently voiced caution, with many firms slashing earnings forecasts or withholding guidance entirely due to uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariffs and shifting global trade dynamics.
Corporate Movers
Domino’s Pizza shares fluctuated between minor gains and losses after reporting weaker-than-expected quarterly profits. CEO Russell Weiner described the current global economic environment as “challenging,” echoing concerns expressed by executives in multiple industries.
Meanwhile, DoorDash gained 0.6% following news that London-based food delivery rival Deliveroo received a $3.6 billion takeover offer. Deliveroo suspended its stock buyback program as it considers the bid.
Economic Reports Could Shake Markets
Wall Street is preparing for critical economic data releases this week. Economists project that U.S. GDP growth for the first quarter slowed sharply to an annual rate of 0.8%, down from 2.4% in the previous quarter. The report, scheduled for Wednesday, could significantly influence market sentiment.
However, most of the current economic data reflects conditions before Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2, when he introduced a sweeping new round of tariffs that could affect global trade flows.
Upcoming April jobs data, set for release Friday, may be more reflective of the tariffs’ real-time economic effects. Economists expect job growth to slow sharply, with forecasts calling for just 125,000 new hires in April compared to 228,000 in March.
Tariff Fears Cloud Economic Outlook
Investors remain concerned that Trump’s tariff policies could chill business investment and consumer spending, creating further volatility. Recent consumer sentiment surveys have already shown a marked decline in optimism about the economy’s future.
The Conference Board’s latest reading on consumer confidence, expected Tuesday, will offer another gauge of household sentiment in the early stages of the tariff impacts.
Bond Market Steadies After Jitters
In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a previously unsettling surge that rattled both Wall Street and Washington. The 10-year Treasury yield edged down to 4.27% from 4.29% on Friday, calming fears that faith in U.S. government bonds was eroding.
Stable bond markets provide some comfort to equities, but investors remain on high alert for any sudden shifts.
Global Markets Mixed
International stock markets were mixed Monday. Europe’s CAC 40 index climbed 1% in Paris, buoyed by corporate earnings optimism, while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.2% amid ongoing concerns about global trade disruptions.
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