📊 The Week Ahead: All Eyes on the White House

Markets have started the week deep in the red after the US failed to offer any clarity on its trade tariff policy over the weekend.

📉 Asian indices tumbled on Monday:

🔻 Hang Seng -11%

🔻 Nikkei -6%

🔻 CSI 300 -7%+

🇪🇺 European futures also in the red:

🔻 FTSE 100 -1.2%

🔻 Eurostoxx 600 -3%

🇺🇸 US futures signal further losses too.

🔧 There were reports that China is preparing stimulus, but markets are not reacting to words—they want real action.

💥 Last Week’s Damage:

Risk assets sold off sharply across the board:

🔻 Nasdaq -10%

🔻 S&P 500 -9%

🔻 Eurostoxx -8.5%

🔻 FTSE 100 -7% (in just 2 days!)

📉 Even gold dropped 3%, although it remains above $3,000/oz.

The US lost $5.4 trillion in stock market value in 2 days.

🧠 Tech, commodities, and even safe havens were hit.

🧱 Only “recession-proof” stocks like health insurers and Dollar General rose.

🇺🇸 Will Trump Pause the Tariffs?

Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted on X that he expects President Trump to pause tariffs today to allow time for proper negotiations and supply chain adjustments.

He claims the 2 April announcement was a wake-up call, but now it's time to make deals. If Trump confirms a pause 👉 expect a strong rebound in stocks, oil, and bond yields.

But over the weekend, White House officials were more cautious:

🗣 Treasury Secretary Besant said markets are overreacting.

📢 Commerce Secretary Lutnick insisted tariffs are necessary.

📍What to Watch This Week:

1️⃣ 🇺🇸 US CPI (Thurs)

Headline inflation expected to dip to 2.6%, but monthly rate could rise to 0.3%.

This will be the first CPI print including new tariffs—any spike in prices could reduce the chance of Fed rate cuts and fuel more selling.

2️⃣ 🇬🇧 UK GDP (Tues)

February growth expected at just +0.1%.

The UK is especially vulnerable to a global trade war.

🔺 The pound rose 1.4% last week, but mostly due to USD weakness.

3️⃣ 📈 US Earnings Season Begins

🔹 Delta Airlines reports Wednesday

🔹 JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo on Friday

Markets will focus on forward guidance and commentary from JPM CEO Jamie Dimon on the recession and tariffs.

📉 JPM is down 16% in 4 weeks.

Its stock looks cheap, but outlook depends on policy.

🎯 Bottom Line:

This is a critical week for markets.

A single move from the White House—pause or reversal of tariffs—could trigger a massive relief rally.

Otherwise, brace for continued volatility and possibly deeper losses.

Stay alert 📲