Wall Street finishes week quietly as trade uncertainty lingers

U.S. stocks experienced a mixed day on Friday as hopes for a trade war de-escalation drove a three-day rally to an end. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both saw slight gains, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.3%, bolstered by Big Tech stocks like Nvidia. President Trump’s softer stance on trade in recent days helped soothe investor concerns, but uncertainty remains as conflicting reports about potential trade deals with China emerge. Several companies, including Intel and Eastman Chemical, cited trade war uncertainty for difficulties in providing financial forecasts, leading to stock price declines. Despite the market volatility, Trump’s pause on reciprocal tariffs for 90 days provided some relief. Analysts suggest that while tariffs may be reduced as a result of negotiations, economic uncertainty will persist. While the U.S. stock market lost steam on Friday, 10-year Treasury yields eased, and the U.S. dollar strengthened. Stock markets abroad experienced modest gains, with Asia seeing mixed movements. The overall outlook remains uncertain as markets await further clarity on trade negotiations.