US Stock Markets Mixed; Chinese Stocks Decline Across the Board
On Friday, Eastern Time, the three major U.S. stock indexes showed mixed performance, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainty and market volatility.
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: ▼ 0.03%
- Nasdaq: ▲ 0.06%
- S&P 500: ▼ 0.13%
Meanwhile, Chinese stocks fell sharply, with the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index dropping over 1% as investors reacted to global economic concerns, trade tensions, and policy changes.
Key Stock Movements
Nike & FedEx Plunge Over 5%
Nike (NKE) and FedEx (FDX) both fell more than 5% after FedEx’s Q4 sales guidance missed expectations, raising concerns about slowing consumer demand.
Novo Nordisk Falls Over 8%
Novo Nordisk (NVO) tumbled more than 8% after lowering its profit forecast for the year, citing tariff-related challenges.
Eli Lilly Drops 2%
Eli Lilly (LLY) fell over 2% following the launch of its weight-loss drug in India, where it will face intense competition from local and international pharmaceutical companies.
Global Market Updates
Tariff Tensions & Central Bank Decisions
This week marked one of the most closely watched central bank meetings since Trump’s second term began. More than a dozen central banks—including the U.S., UK, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, and Brazil—announced their interest rate decisions.
However, policymakers worldwide are adjusting strategies due to inflation concerns linked to U.S. tariffs.
U.S. Agrees to WTO Talks with China & Canada on Tariffs
The U.S. has agreed to hold consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) with China and Canada regarding trade disputes. Over the past two weeks, Canada has filed two complaints against U.S. tariffs:
- March 4 – Canada formally challenged U.S. tariffs at the WTO.
- March 14 – Canada requested consultations on U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs.
Now, the U.S. has agreed to discuss these issues.
Recession Warnings & Federal Reserve Criticism
Economic concerns are mounting as experts warn of a potential U.S. recession. On March 19, Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody’s, stated that the risk of a recession is rising. He warned that if Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs for 3–5 months, it could be enough to push the economy into a recession.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers also expressed concern over the Fed’s recent slowdown in balance sheet reduction (QT), calling it a sign of weak market demand for long-term federal debt.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Progress
In a potential diplomatic breakthrough, the U.S. has mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in a temporary agreement. Both sides have committed not to attack each other’s energy infrastructure for the next 30 days.
On Thursday (March 20), U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that after three years of war, Ukraine and Russia are now “one step away” from a complete ceasefire.
Conclusion
With market volatility, trade tensions, Fed decisions, and geopolitical risks in play, investors remain cautious about the global economic outlook.
