Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ: QQQ)

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The Trust holds the Portfolio and cash and is not actively managed by traditional methods, which typically involve effecting changes in the Portfolio on the basis of judgments made relating to economic, financial and market considerations. To maintain the correspondence between the composition and weights of the securities in the Trust and the stocks in the Nasdaq-100 Index, the Trustee adjusts the Securities from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weights of Index Securities. The composition and weighting of the securities portion of a Portfolio Deposit are also adjusted to conform to changes in the Index. Changes to the Index are made after the close of the market

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Trump eleva los aranceles a China hasta un 245% en una escalada sin precedentes que impacta minerales críticos, tecnología y comercio global.

Trump presiona a China con aranceles del 245% y dispara tensión comercial global

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Una señal técnica clave apareció en el S&amp;P 500. ¿Podría significar una caída prolongada o un rebote inesperado?

Cruz de la Muerte lleva al S&amp;P 500 a zona de riesgo: esto dicen los analistas

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Trump quiere que las farmacéuticas vuelvan a EE. UU. ¿Cómo afectarán sus aranceles a las acciones del sector?

Trump presiona a farmacéuticas con aranceles para forzar regreso a EE. UU.

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The S&P And Nasdaq are higher. Markets may be rising on hopes of a deal with China.

Wall Street saw a rebound in risk appetite on Thursday ahead of the long Easter weekend, as President Donald Trump signaled positive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">momentum in trade negotiations.</a>
Speaking ahead of a scheduled meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump expressed strong confidence in reaching a trade agreement with the European Union. He also hinted at progress with China, stating, "We will make a good deal with China." 
Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that trade talks with Japan are moving in a highly satisfactory direction.
By midday in New York, the S&amp;P 500 had climbed 0.9%, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.5%, recouping some losses after a 3% slide on Wednesday. The Dow Jones, however, slipped 0.9%, weighed down by a sharp 23% plunge in UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) after the company slashed its full-year earnings forecast.
Energy stocks led the day&#8217;s gains, buoyed by rising oil prices. Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) rallied 4.1%, while Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) advanced 3.5%.
Gold prices retreated nearly 1% after a strong multi-day rally, pressured by a firmer U.S. dollar and rising Treasury yields. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed six basis points to 4.34%.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) edged up 0.9% to $85,000.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg (%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,884.35</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,323.43</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>18,357.77</td>
<td>0.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>39,441.72</td>
<td colspan="2">-0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:55 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.8% to $530.09.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) fell 0.7% to $394.05.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.5% to $446.19.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 1% to $186.67.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energt&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 3.5%; the&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h1>
<ul>
<li>Eli Lilly Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) surged 16% after announcing that its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, Orforglipron, successfully completed Phase 3 trials without requiring food or water restrictions.</li>
<li>Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIS#NYSE">FIS</a>) jumped 9% after announcing a $13.5 billion deal to acquire Global Payments Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GPN#NYSE">GPN</a>)&#8217;s Issuer Solutions business. The move is aimed at bolstering FIS's fintech capabilities and is expected to generate over $125 million in annual revenue synergies. Shares of GPN tumbled 15%. </li>
<li>Companies reacting to earnings reports included American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>), up 0.5%; Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), up 1.9%; Charles Schwab Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>), up 2.7%; Marsh &amp; McLennan Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMC#NYSE">MMC</a>) down 3.3%; Truist Financial Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TFC#NYSE">TFC</a>), up 1.3%; State Street Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STT#NYSE">STT</a>), up 3.2%; KeyCorp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KEY#NYSE">KEY</a>), up 3.7% and Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HBAN#NASDAQ">HBAN</a>), up 4%.</li>
<li>Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) rose 2% ahead of the earnings report, which is slated for release after the market close. </li>
</ul>
Read Now: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/04/44869920/unitedhealth-ceo-says-high-cost-of-us-health-care-simply-not-sustainable">UnitedHealth CEO Says High Cost Of US Health Care &#8216;Simply Not Sustainable&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Wall Street Rebounds, Eli Lilly Rallies, UnitedHealth Group Plummets: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Shares of Unusual Machines Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UMAC#NYSE">UMAC</a>) and Dominari Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOMH#NASDAQ">DOMH</a>) surged ahead of the appointments of President Donald Trump&#8216;s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, to their advisory boards.
What Happened: The drone maker, Unusual Machines, which announced Trump Jr.&#8217;s appointment to the company&#8217;s advisory board on Nov. 27, 2024, saw its volume skyrocket in four weeks by 182,100 shares as of Oct. 30, 2024, to 56,839,000 shares as of the date of the announcement, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1d9e9e91-3b61-4060-8367-5bba18501df6">reported</a> the Financial Times.
The shares of the company in the four weeks rose by 495.79%, leading to the announcement.
Unusual Machines told the publication that only three senior officers, its board, and counsel knew of Trump Jr.&#8217;s planned involvement. The company believes no one breached their duty and has no information on why investors bought its stock during that time.
Similarly, Dominari Holdings volumes also soared from 109,300 shares on Dec. 31, 2024, to 33,245,300 shares as of Feb. 11, 2025.
The fintech company focused on data centers and AI investment opportunities, announced on Feb. 11, Trump Jr. and Eric Trump&#8217;s appointment to its advisory board as well.
The six weeks leading to the announcement saw the stock price climb by 661.2%. Prior to their official appointments, disclosures showed that the Trump brothers each received 966,000 shares of Dominari, representing 6.7% of the company.
Notably, Dominari Holdings underwrote Unusual Machines' initial public offering last year.
Dominari, Eric, and Trump Jr. did not respond to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> email about an NDA breach.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44858165/policy-push-vs-market-pull-dollar-under-pressure-as-reserve-currency-may-be-called-into-question-amid-tariff-turmoil">Policy Push vs. Market Pull: Dollar Under Pressure As &#8216;Reserve Currency May Be Called Into Question&#8217; Amid Tariff Turmoil</a>
Why It Matters: Bill Singer, a lawyer and former regulatory attorney, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1d9e9e91-3b61-4060-8367-5bba18501df6">told</a> FT that the significant price change before the announcement suggested &#8220;that this was not a hermetically sealed event.&#8221;
Meanwhile, University of Michigan law professor Adam Pritchard called the stock movements &#8220;clearly unusual&#8221; but noted that, as a board advisor, Trump Jr. might not have the same restrictions against trading on information that a board director does.
Apart from this, Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>) has recently announced the launch of Truth Social-branded separately managed accounts. Yorkville America Equities and Index Technologies Group have partnered with DJT on this venture.
Price Action: Unusual Machines was up 2.98% in premarket on Thursday, and it has dropped 68.36% on a year-to-date basis, whereas Dominari Holdings rose 1.30% in premarket, surging 253.21% on a year-to-date basis.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate that UMAC has a weaker price trend over the short and medium term but a strong price trend in the long term. Its momentum ranking was sturdy at the 99.21th percentile, whereas its value rankings were weak, the details for which, along with other metrics, are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/UMAC"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="984" height="151" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072402/UMAC-EDGE.png" alt="" class="wp-image-876349" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072402/UMAC-EDGE.png 984w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072402/UMAC-EDGE-300x46.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072402/UMAC-EDGE-768x118.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px" /></a></figure>
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that DOMH has a weaker price trend in the short term, whereas it is strong over the medium term and long term. Its momentum ranking is solid at the 97.31th percentile, whereas its value rankings were moderate, the details for which, along with other metrics, are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/DOMH"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="981" height="148" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072429/DOMH-EDGE-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-876350" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072429/DOMH-EDGE-1.png 981w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072429/DOMH-EDGE-1-300x45.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/17072429/DOMH-EDGE-1-768x116.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 981px) 100vw, 981px" /></a></figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Thursday. The SPY was up 0.76% to $529.67, while the QQQ advanced 0.98% to $448.54, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries/25/04/44857989/gold-nears-3400-mark-experts-point-to-likely-correction-amid-bull-market-rates-will-drop-like-rock">Gold Nears $3,400 Mark, Experts Point To Likely &#8216;Correction&#8217; Amid Bull Market: &#8216;Rates Will Drop Like Rock&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
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Unusual Machines, Dominari Holdings Share Volume Spiked Ahead Of Trump Family Appointments: Here's What Happened

The bearish sentiment, measured by the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) Sentiment Survey, broke a record this week as it stayed above the 50%-mark for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44730455/bearish-sentiment-hits-seven-week-high-mimicking-35-year-old-record-which-marked-the-bottom-of-the-october-1990-b"> the eighth consecutive week.</a>
What Happened: Despite a weekly decrease in negative sentiment, the latest AAII survey showed bearishness still leading bullish and neutral views at 56.9% this week.
The bullish sentiment also declined from the previous week, while neutral sentiment rose to 17.7% from 12.5%.
AAII survey, conducted weekly from Thursday to Wednesday, noted a 2% decrease in pessimism from 58.9% to 56.9% this week; similarly, bullish sentiment also reduced by nearly 3% from 28.5% to 25.4% this week.
The bearish sentiment continues to be above 50% for the eighth straight week. The streak began on the week ended Feb. 26, when it first touched the 60.6% mark.
While the seven-week-long streak matched a 35-year-old record from October 1990, this week&#8217;s eighth week of advance broke all records.
According to Subu Trade, &#8220;This has never happened before. Not during COVID, 2008, the dot-com collapse, or the 1990 bear market.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">AAII Bears is now at 56.9% This is the 8th consecutive week with over 50% Bears. This has never happened before. Not during COVID, 2008, dot-com collapse, or 1990 bear market <a href="https://t.co/yQ3upMQXbr">pic.twitter.com/yQ3upMQXbr</a>
&mdash; Subu Trade (@SubuTrade) <a href="https://twitter.com/SubuTrade/status/1912732998132265344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries/25/04/44857989/gold-nears-3400-mark-experts-point-to-likely-correction-amid-bull-market-rates-will-drop-like-rock">Gold Nears $3,400 Mark, Experts Point To Likely &#8216;Correction&#8217; Amid Bull Market: &#8216;Rates Will Drop Like Rock&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The historical average of bearish sentiments stood at 31%, which was nearly half of the current pessimism among the participants of the AAII survey.
Whereas, historically, the bullish participants surveyed to at 37.5% on an average.
Jeff Weniger, the head of equities at WisdomTree, shared a graph combining all the fear gauges, including VIX, AAII Bears, and Investors Intelligence survey, to conclude that the S&amp;P 500 index always gains after a period of extreme fear.
&#8220;In 10 of the last 11 fear spikes, the S&amp;P 500 went on to gains over the next 52 weeks. Returns were often large too (+31.0%, +21.0%, and so on),&#8221; he said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Maybe my favorite chart this month. You&#39;re looking at the highest reading on record in 1,841 weekly stock market sentiment observations from 1990 to 2025. The inputs: the VIX volatility index + AAII survey bearish respondents + Investors Intelligence survey respondents who… <a href="https://t.co/mIV9gqWDZv">pic.twitter.com/mIV9gqWDZv</a>
&mdash; Jeff Weniger (@JeffWeniger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffWeniger/status/1912617472018321548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Similarly, Puru Saxena, the founder of AlphaTarget, noted that such fearful considerations &#8220;historically led to better than average 52-week gains for U.S. stocks.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Spike in VIX + very high % bears in AAII Sentiment Survey + CTAs net short + very high short positions in US ETFs has historically led to better than average 52-week gains for US stocks. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24NDX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$NDX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SPX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SPX</a>
&mdash; Puru Saxena (@saxena_puru) <a href="https://twitter.com/saxena_puru/status/1912713158952726881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Price Action: The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Thursday. The SPY was up 0.32% to $527.34, while the QQQ advanced 0.57% to $446.70, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44858165/policy-push-vs-market-pull-dollar-under-pressure-as-reserve-currency-may-be-called-into-question-amid-tariff-turmoil">Policy Push vs. Market Pull: Dollar Under Pressure As &#8216;Reserve Currency May Be Called Into Question&#8217; Amid Tariff Turmoil</a></li>
</ul>
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Markets Gripped By Pessimism As Bearish Sentiment Breaks 35-Year Record, Remains Above 50% For 8 Straight Weeks

U.S. stock futures rose on Thursday ahead of the long weekend, with Good Friday falling on April 18 and Easter Sunday on April 20. Futures of major benchmark indices were higher in premarket.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44848474/fed-chair-powell-says-tariffs-lead-to-temporary-rise-in-inflation">Federal Reserve</a> Chairman Jerome Powell dismissed the possibility of a &#8220;Fed put&#8221; in the near term while speaking in Chicago on Wednesday.
&#8220;We may find ourselves in the challenging scenario in which our dual-mandate goals are in tension. If that were to occur, we would consider how far the economy is from each goal, and the potentially different time horizons over which those respective gaps would be anticipated to close,&#8221; said Powell.
U.S. export restrictions on Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44844084/nvidias-h20-chip-ban-could-lead-to-manageable-sales-drop-bank-of-america-says">H20 GPUs</a> pulled the stock market down on Wednesday.
The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.32% and the two-year bond was at 3.82%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing an 86.4% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>0.75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>0.83%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>1.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.66%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, rose in premarket on Thursday. The SPY was up 1.03% to $531.05, while the QQQ advanced 1.04% to $448.78, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From Last Session:
U.S. stocks closed sharply lower on Wednesday, driven by a significant sell-off in the semiconductor sector and broader tech weakness.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) experienced a steep decline, with Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) both falling approximately 7% following new export restrictions on Nvidia chips to China.
This news heavily impacted the information technology sector, which, along with consumer discretionary and communication services, recorded the largest losses. In contrast, energy stocks defied the overall downward trend, closing higher.
Among individual companies, Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, and Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>) posted upbeat first-quarter adjusted EPS.
On the economic front, U.S. industrial production fell by 0.3% in March, slightly more than anticipated. However, U.S. retail sales surged 1.4% month-over-month in March, exceeding both the previous month&#8217;s gain and market expectations.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-3.07%</td>
<td>16,307.16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-2.24%</td>
<td>5,275.70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-1.73%</td>
<td>39,669.39</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-1.03%</td>
<td>1,863.48</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
According to Scott Wren, the senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo, &#8220;current equity levels offer an attractive entry opportunity even with the bounce higher off the recent lows.&#8221;
Wren further emphasized the importance of having a &#8220;plan of action or at least be happy with where you currently stand,&#8221; regardless of individual perspectives on the implemented tariffs.
&#8220;Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we have seen the administration go from an aggressive reciprocal tariff strategy that involved meaningful universal tariffs on virtually all of our trading partners to a pause that suspends most reciprocal tariffs but leaves a 145% levy on imports from China,&#8221; Wren notes.
Despite the tariff uncertainty, Wren&#8217;s firm maintains a view that the U.S. economy was already heading for a slowdown in the first half of the year, even before the current trade strategies were implemented. &#8220;From our perspective, even before the current tariff strategies were deployed, our analysis suggested the economy was going to hit a bump in the road and slow in the first half of this year. That line of thought is still intact,&#8221; Wren states.
Wren also suggests a strategic shift in fixed income, advising investors to &#8220;move money from bonds, specifically the intermediate portion of the yield curve, into mid-cap U.S. equities in an effort to take advantage of the fall in stocks and the rally in bond prices (yields fell).&#8221;
Meanwhile, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44858165/policy-push-vs-market-pull-dollar-under-pressure-as-reserve-currency-may-be-called-into-question-amid-tariff-turmoil">U.S. dollar is facing pressure</a>, with its &#8220;reserve currency&#8221; status. A recent study titled &#8216;Dollar Upheaval: This Time is Different&#8217; noted a 3.6% depreciation between April 4th and 14th, an unusual move as the dollar typically gains during global volatility.
This suggests a break from traditional market behavior, raising concerns that U.S. Treasuries lose their safe-haven appeal.
"If U.S. Treasuries are no longer viewed as the world's preferred safe asset, then the status of the dollar as the world's reserve currency may be called into question,&#8221; stated the note.
Investors are now <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/treasuries/25/04/44857989/gold-nears-3400-mark-experts-point-to-likely-correction-amid-bull-market-rates-will-drop-like-rock">flocking to Gold</a>, which has been hitting fresh highs as it trades above $3,300 per ounce. According to data shared by Charlie Bilello of Creative Planning, the inflation-adjusted gold prices were back at an all-time high, after 45 years, surpassing the prior peak from 1980.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It took 45 years to get there, but inflation-adjusted Gold prices are back at an all-time high, surpassing the prior peak from 1980. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOLD&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOLD</a><a href="https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ">https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/bXWisvrl3c">pic.twitter.com/bXWisvrl3c</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912558536573268362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Economist Mohamed El-Erian attributed the increasing price of gold to a gradual shift away from the U.S. dollar by some foreign central banks and other entities seeking diversification.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The price of gold registered another record high today, overcoming yet another periodic round of profit-taking by some tactical traders — this as it benefits from the tailwind of slow and steady diversification away from the dollar by some foreign central banks and others.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a>… <a href="https://t.co/MKDnxZddv0">pic.twitter.com/MKDnxZddv0</a>
&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1912523089557987357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Thursday and Friday:
<ul>
<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims data for the week ending April 12 and March&#8217;s housing starts, building permits, and April&#8217;s Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey data will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Friday, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly will speak at 8:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>) fell 0.64% in premarket on Thursday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $7.29 per share on revenue of $111.60 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>DR Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) rose 0.39% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $2.65 per share on revenue of $8.03 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) was up 1.38% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $5.72 per share on revenue of $10.52 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>FNB Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FNB#NYSE">FNB</a>) was up 1.14% as it posted better-than-expected earnings for its first quarter on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>) jumped 3.45% after reporting a 60% surge in its net profit for the first quarter, topping market expectations.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rio Tinto Plc ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIO#NYSE">RIO</a>) climbed 1.68% after it announced the assessment of the low-carbon aluminum project in India along with AMG Metals &amp; Materials.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Woodside Energy Group Ltd. ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDS#NYSE">WDS</a>) advanced 2.73% after signing LNG supply agreements with Uniper.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>BP PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>) gained 1.08%, and Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KOS#NYSE">KOS</a>) was 4.22% higher after BP completed loading the first cargo from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 1.02% to hover around $63.11 per barrel.
Gold Spot US Dollar declined 0.57% to hover around $3,324.20 per ounce. Its fresh record high stood at $3,357.81 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.10% at the 99.4760 level.
Asian markets advanced on Wednesday, except China&#8217;s CSI 300 index. India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's ASX 200, and South Korea's Kospi index ended higher. European markets were lower in early trade.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44858165/policy-push-vs-market-pull-dollar-under-pressure-as-reserve-currency-may-be-called-into-qu">Policy Push vs. Market Pull: Dollar Under Pressure As &#8216;Reserve Currency May Be Called Into Question&#8217; Amid Tariff Turmoil</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Commodities

Treasuries

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

NVDA

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher Ahead Of Festive Weekend: 'Current Equity Levels Offer An Attractive Entry Opportunity'

As the U.S. dollar remains under pressure, its status as the &#8220;reserve currency&#8221; has come into question. Experts are highlighting the current administration&#8217;s intentions to reshape global economic linkages, along with a market reaction that suggests a potential erosion in its status.
What Happened: The U.S. dollar index has declined 8.21% on a year-to-date basis as of the publication of this article. This decline was accelerated by the surprising market response to the <a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44616760/donald-trump-sets-reciprocal-tariffs-on-key-trade-partners-in-historic-policy-shock">administration&#8217;s announced reciprocal tariffs</a> in early April 2025.
A recent study titled &#8216;Dollar Upheaval: This Time is Different,&#8217; by five experts, including Zhengyang Jiang, Arvind Krishnamurthy, Hanno Lustig, Robert Richmond, and Chenzi Xu, highlights that &#8220;Between April 4 and April 14, the U.S. dollar depreciated by 3.6%.&#8221;
&#8220;Normally, in times of global volatility… the dollar appreciates as dollar-denominated assets benefit from a flight to safety. Not this time around,&#8221; the note stated.
This unexpected depreciation suggests a disconnect between traditional market dynamics and the dollar&#8217;s current performance. &#8220;If U.S. Treasuries are no longer viewed as the world's preferred safe asset, then the status of the dollar as the world's reserve currency may be called into question.&#8221;
Adding a crucial layer to this analysis is commentary from Chatham House expert David Lubin, who points to a &#8220;view of some within the Trump administration that the reserve currency status of the dollar is more of a burden to the U.S. economy than a blessing.&#8221;
This &#8220;policy push&#8221; aims to weaken the dollar permanently against other currencies, hoping to reduce the trade deficit and attract manufacturers to the U.S.
However, Lubin strongly cautions against this approach, arguing that &#8220;if the international monetary system cannot rely on the dollar's full convertibility, or its availability in a crisis, it is entering unknown territory. Undermining the dollar's global status would not only transmit huge amounts of additional uncertainty to the global economy, but would be a needless act of self-harm for the U.S.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44834505/scott-bessent-affirms-china-wont-weaponize-us-treasuries-as-it-would-weaken-their-currency-affecting-exports-we-do-buybacks">Scott Bessent Says China Won&#8217;t &#8216;Weaponize&#8217; US Treasuries, Citing Risk To RMB And Exports: &#8216;We Do Buybacks&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: Despite the administration&#8217;s potential motivations and the market&#8217;s reaction, as detailed in the &#8216;Dollar Upheaval&#8217; note suggests a market pull away from the dollar&#8217;s traditional &#8220;safe asset&#8221; status.
Their analysis of the Treasury basis further indicates that investors &#8220;(i) question the safety of the dollar, not just Treasuries, and (ii) that they perceive these changes to be long-lasting.&#8221;
Lubin notes a growing argument in the government, citing Vice President JD Vance&#8216;s &#8220;resource curse&#8221; analogy and Steve Miran&#8216;s claim that the dollar&#8217;s reserve role is causing &#8220;persistent currency distortions&#8221; leading to trade deficits.
The confluence of a deliberate policy push to weaken the dollar and a market response indicating a declining appetite for dollar-denominated assets paints a concerning picture, according to these experts.
Price Action: The U.S. Dollar Index Spot was 0.33% up at the 99.706 level as of the publication of this article. It was close to its 52-week low of 99.0140 and 9.5% lower than its 52-week high of 110.1760.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell on Wednesday. The SPY was down 2.22% to $525.66, while the QQQ declined 3.02% to $444.18, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
On Thursday, the Dow Jones futures were up 0.78%, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index rose 0.90% and the Nasdaq 100 advanced 1.09%.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">China Now Faces Up To 245% Tariffs On Certain Imports, Says White House: Here&#8217;s What You Should Know</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Macro Notification

Regulations

Bonds

Politics

Forex

Policy Push vs. Market Pull: Dollar Under Pressure As 'Reserve Currency May Be Called Into Question' Amid Tariff Turmoil

Gold prices have been scaling fresh highs amid the global market uncertainty, however, some experts point out that a severe correction could be looming amid this gold bull run.
What Happened: While the Gold Spot U.S. Dollar has scaled a fresh high at $3,357.81 per ounce and trades above the 3,300-mark, experts have now started cautioning against this bull run.
According to Patrick Karim, the co-founder of NorthstarBadcharts.com, gold undergoes corrections even during bull markets.
The data shared by him shows that gold prices underwent a correction of over 48% during December 1974 to August 1976, 33% during March 2008 to October 2008, and 22% between August 2020 to September 2022.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I know, gold bulls don&#39;t want to read this right now&#8230; But even during bull markets, gold had these corrections: Dec 1974 to Aug 1976, drop over 48%. Mar 2008 to Oct 2008, drop over 33%. Aug 2020 to Sep 2022, drop over 22%. Same setup now with price historically stretched. <a href="https://t.co/FgRd6uJh6D">pic.twitter.com/FgRd6uJh6D</a>
&mdash; Patrick Karim (@badcharts1) <a href="https://twitter.com/badcharts1/status/1912633618435887502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, the CEO of Cardone Capital, Grant Cardone said, &#8220;gold acting like we in depression. Rates will drop like rock.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">gold acting like we in depression. Rates will drop like rock &#x2b07;&#xFE0F; <a href="https://t.co/zy09KAdhYd">pic.twitter.com/zy09KAdhYd</a>
&mdash; Grant Cardone (@GrantCardone) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantCardone/status/1912618410497782149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According to data shared by Charlie Bilello of Creative Planning, the inflation-adjusted gold prices were back at an all-time high, after 45 years, surpassing the prior peak from 1980.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">It took 45 years to get there, but inflation-adjusted Gold prices are back at an all-time high, surpassing the prior peak from 1980. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOLD&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOLD</a><a href="https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ">https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/bXWisvrl3c">pic.twitter.com/bXWisvrl3c</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912558536573268362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Economist Mohamed El-Erian said that the rise in gold prices was a result of the slow and steady diversification away from the dollar by some foreign central banks and others.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The price of gold registered another record high today, overcoming yet another periodic round of profit-taking by some tactical traders — this as it benefits from the tailwind of slow and steady diversification away from the dollar by some foreign central banks and others.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a>… <a href="https://t.co/MKDnxZddv0">pic.twitter.com/MKDnxZddv0</a>
&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1912523089557987357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
This was also confirmed by a study titled ‘Dollar Upheaval: This Time is Different&#8217;. The note written by five experts concluded that investors "(i) question the safety of the dollar, not just Treasuries, and (ii) that they perceive these changes to be long-lasting."
"Normally, in times of global volatility… the dollar appreciates as dollar-denominated assets benefit from a flight to safety. Not this time around," the note stated.
Thus, it is evident that investors were preferring gold as a safe-haven asset over the U.S. Treasuries of the U.S. dollar.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44834505/scott-bessent-affirms-china-wont-weaponize-us-treasuries-as-it-would-weaken-their-currency-affecting-exports-we-do-buybacks">Scott Bessent Says China Won&#8217;t &#8216;Weaponize&#8217; US Treasuries, Citing Risk To RMB And Exports: &#8216;We Do Buybacks&#8217;</a>
Why It Matters: The Gold Spot US Dollar price has rallied 27% from $2,623.81 on Dec. 31, 2024, to $3,332.16 per ounce as of today. 
When compared with data from over 25 years, gold prices have skyrocketed 1056% from $288.25 on Dec. 31, 1999. In comparison, the S&amp;P 500 index has risen by 259.1% from 1,469.25 on Dec. 31, 1999, to 5,275.70 as of Wednesday&#8217;s close.
Gold prices were on pace to score their best year since 1979, when the prices rallied 126.5% on a year-to-date basis.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Gold hit another all-time high today and is now up over 27% in 2025. On pace for its best year since 1979.<a href="https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ">https://t.co/l5IYmkeySJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/qrnwssFL0X">pic.twitter.com/qrnwssFL0X</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912676841199935975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Price Action: The gold price was down 0.54% at $3,332.16 as of the publication of this article. Following Gold ETFs have also done well during this bull run.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Gold ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FGDL#NYSE">FGDL</a>)</td>
<td>25.78%</td>
<td>40.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAAU#BATS">AAAU</a>)</td>
<td>25.37%</td>
<td>40.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GraniteShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAR#NYSE">BAR</a>)</td>
<td>25.42%</td>
<td>40.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Merk Gold ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OUNZ#NYSE">OUNZ</a>)</td>
<td>25.24%</td>
<td>40.15%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>)</td>
<td>25.28%</td>
<td>40.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAU#NYSE">IAU</a>)</td>
<td>25.38%</td>
<td>40.28%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLDM#NYSE">GLDM</a>)</td>
<td>25.41%</td>
<td>40.45%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGOL#NYSE">SGOL</a>)</td>
<td>25.32%</td>
<td>40.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Gold Trust Micro (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAUM#NYSE">IAUM</a>)</td>
<td>25.49%</td>
<td>40.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco DB Precious Metals Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBP#NYSE">DBP</a>)</td>
<td>21.48%</td>
<td>29.06%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell on Wednesday. The SPY was down 2.22% to $525.66, while the QQQ declined 3.02% to $444.18, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
On Thursday, the Dow Jones futures were up 1.04%, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index rose 1.19% and the Nasdaq 100 advanced 1.21%.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44836076/gold-fund-inflows-smash-record-with-80-billion-in-2025-these-etfs-are-riding-the-3300-surge">Gold Fund Inflows Smash Record With $80 Billion In 2025 — These ETFs Are Riding The $3,300 Surge</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

AAAU

FGDL

GLDM

IAUM

OUNZ

SGOL

Gold Nears $3,400 Mark, Experts Point To Likely 'Correction' Amid Bull Market: 'Rates Will Drop Like Rock'

California has launched a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, seeking to put an end to his extensive tariff regime, which the state feels is being illegally implemented.
What Happened:&nbsp;On Wednesday, California became the first state to legally challenge the Trump administration&#8217;s extensive tariff plans. These plans have caused significant market instability and strained the United States&#8217;&nbsp;relationships with its trading partners and allies,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/16/trump-tariff-lawsuit-california.html">CNBC</a>&nbsp;reported.
&#8220;Donald Trump does not have&nbsp;the authority to unilaterally impose&nbsp;the largest tax hike of&nbsp;our lifetime with his destructive&nbsp;tariffs,&#8221; stated California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The lawsuit argues that Trump&#8217;s invocation of the&nbsp;International Economic Emergency Powers Act&nbsp;to implement his reciprocal tariff plan is both &#8220;unlawful and unprecedented.&#8221;
The lawsuit, lodged in the&nbsp;U.S. District Court in northern&nbsp;California,&nbsp;seeks to have Trump&#8217;s tariffs&nbsp;&#8220;declared null and void,&#8221; indicating that the situation is causing &#8220;immediate and irreparable harm&#8221; to California—the nation&#8217;s largest state in terms of economy, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The White House has criticized Newsom over the lawsuit, with spokesman Kush Desai telling POLITICO that the Governor should instead focus on &#8220;California's rampant crime, homelessness, and unaffordability.&#8221;
Notably, California has already filed 15 lawsuits against Trump since January. &#8220;That&#8217;s our state of mind,&#8221; said Governor Newsom. &#8220;That&#8217;s why we&#8217;re asserting ourselves on behalf of 40 million Americans.&#8221;
Why It Matters: This lawsuit comes on the heels of a similar <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44802211/5-small-businesses-hit-trump-with-lawsuit-over-tariffs-trade-deficits-are-not-an-emergency">legal action</a> initiated by five American small businesses. These businesses accused Trump of abusing his powers to impose trade taxes under the guise of a national emergency, despite no such emergency existing.
The companies submitted the complaint to the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing that Trump unlawfully invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to justify global tariffs on imports without Congressional approval or clear economic justification. 
California&#8217;s lawsuit is significant as the state is not only home to large tech companies but also premium agricultural produce such as almonds, figs, olives, walnuts, raisins and artichokes. "As the fifth largest economy in the world, California understands global trade policy is not just a game," said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/quote/spy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NYSE">QQQ</a>) <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/quote/qqq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, ended 2.22% and 3.02% lower, respectively, on Wednesday, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
<ul>
<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44830819/big-short-fame-steve-eisman-says-nvidias-best-days-are-not-behind-it-but-trump-is-the-wild-card-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Big Short&#8217; Fame Steve Eisman Says Nvidia&#8217;s &#8216;Best Days Are Not Behind It&#8217; But Trump Is The Wild Card In Current Market</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

California Becomes The First State To Sue Trump Over 'Unlawful' Tariff Regime Seeking To Declare It 'Null And Void': 'Global Trade Policy Is Not Just A Game'

Risk sentiment took a sharp blow Wednesday afternoon after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell linked rising tariffs to higher inflation and slower growth, while making it clear the central bank has no intention <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/04/44848474/fed-chair-powell-says-tariffs-lead-to-temporary-rise-in-inflation">of cushioning market losses.</a>
In remarks at the Economic Club of Chicago, Powell said the inflationary effects of tariffs could be more persistent than previously thought, and warned that current policy uncertainty makes it difficult to gauge their full impact. 
Most notably for Wall Street, Powell addressed the notion of a so-called "Fed put"—the belief that the central bank would intervene if markets drop sharply—and offered a blunt response: "I'm going to say no."
That single line pushed traders to recalibrate expectations for any near-term monetary support.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks Tumble As Chipmakers Extend Losses</h3>
By 3:15 p.m. ET, the S&amp;P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – had dropped 3.1% to 5,230 points, while the Nasdaq 100 – tracked by the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) plunged 4.1% to 18,050, dragged down by the tech-heavy weighting of the index. 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 838 points, or 2.1%, and the Russell 2000 small-cap index also fell 2.1%.
Nearly every sector turned red, with the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) nosediving 5%. Energy stocks were the sole exception, buoyed by higher crude prices and safe-haven commodity demand.
Semiconductors were particularly hard hit following fresh export restrictions on Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) chips to China. 
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) plummeted 6.8%, with Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) both down around 10%.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gold Shines In Flight To Safety</h3>
As stocks tumbled, gold prices climbed, continuing their powerful 2025 rally. The precious metal hit new record highs, rising to over $2,350 an ounce, and is now up 26% year to date. 
With the Nasdaq 100 down 23% over the same period, gold has outperformed the tech index by nearly 50% in less than four months.
Gold's appeal has grown amid mounting inflation concerns, policy uncertainty, and geopolitical tension.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Powell: No Market Rescue This Time</h3>
Powell's refusal to endorse the "Fed put" marked a sharp shift in tone from the central bank's more accommodative stance in past downturns. While he acknowledged market volatility, he said both equity and bond markets were "functioning" and "orderly."
"Markets are struggling with a lot of uncertainty, and that means volatility," Powell said. "But having said that, markets are functioning."
The Fed chair emphasized that rate decisions will continue to focus on economic data, especially inflation and employment, and not on asset prices.
Top S&amp;P 500 Gainers:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Last</th>
<th>Chg %</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>129.93</td>
<td>+2.94%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APA Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NYSE">APA</a>)</td>
<td>15.27</td>
<td>+2.52%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)</td>
<td>29.21</td>
<td>+2.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Newmont Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>)</td>
<td>55.88</td>
<td>+2.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diamondback Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NYSE">FANG</a>)</td>
<td>129.98</td>
<td>+2.23%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Top S&amp;P 500 Losers:
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Last</th>
<th>Chg %</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Advanced Micro Devices Inc.</td>
<td>85.90</td>
<td>-9.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia Corp.</td>
<td>101.25</td>
<td>-9.76%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NYSE">JBHT</a>)</td>
<td>123.21</td>
<td>-8.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>)</td>
<td>89.90</td>
<td>-8.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>)</td>
<td>622.99</td>
<td>-7.87%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read now: 
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Photo: Shutterstock

Econ #s

Tech

FANG

JBHT

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PLTR

Stocks Sink As Powell Dismisses 'Fed Put' Safety Net, Gold Extends Massive Lead Over Nasdaq

Major indexes are lower, falling amid prepared remarks from Fed Chair Powell at the Economic Club of Chicago. Additionally, weakness in chips stocks is weighing on markets after NVIDIA said it was recently informed by the US government that it will need a license to export chips to China.

U.S. major indices traded lower at midday Wednesday, pressured by sharp declines in tech and semiconductor stocks after Washington tightened chip <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/china">export restrictions to China.</a>
The U.S. government has barred Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) from selling its H20 chips to China — a move that could wipe out an estimated $5.5 billion from the company's projected quarterly revenue. Nvidia shares slid nearly 7%.
Other chipmakers also felt the heat. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>) dropped 6% as its MI308 chips fall under the new licensing requirements.
The iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NASDAQ">SOXX</a>) sank 3.4%, extending the sector&#8217;s losses. Adding to the drag, Dutch chip equipment giant ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) missed quarterly revenue estimates, sending its shares down 5%.
On the macro front, March retail sales surprised to the upside, rising 1.4% month-over-month — topping forecasts of 1.3% and marking the strongest monthly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44837237/march-retail-sales-post-highest-surge-in-over-two-years-as-us-consumers-anticipate-tariff-jitters">gain since January 2023.</a>
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar saw renewed selling pressure, with the dollar index dipping back below 100. Treasury yields were little changed, with the 10-year yield holding steady near 4.33%.
Gold continued its stellar run, surging 2.5% to a fresh record high of $3,320 per ounce as demand for safe-haven assets remains robust.
In commodities, oil prices rebounded sharply, with WTI crude climbing 2% to $62 a barrel. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) also edged up 1.3% to around $84,500.
All eyes are now on Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who is set to speak at the Economic Club of Chicago later this afternoon.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices </td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>40,318.86</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>1,872.38</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,340.12</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>18,501.22</td>
<td>-1.7%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.9% to $532.68.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) eased 0.1% to $403.09.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;tanked 1.7% to $450.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.5% to $185.84.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Technology&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) lagged, down 2.2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers On Wednesday</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>5.39%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>)</td>
<td>4.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>)</td>
<td>4.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NASDAQ">APA</a>)</td>
<td>3.92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Mosaic Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MOS#NYSE">MOS</a>)</td>
<td>3.84%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Worst 5 Losers On Wednesday</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>% Change</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>)</td>
<td>-8.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation </td>
<td>-6.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.</td>
<td>-5.81%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KLA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>)</td>
<td>-4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPG#NYSE">IPG</a>)</td>
<td>-4.71%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read now: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44832771/the-ball-is-in-chinas-court-trump-says-as-white-house-awaits-beijings-call-china-needs-to-make-a-deal-with-us">&#8216;The Ball Is In China&#8217;s Court&#8217;: Trump Says As White House Awaits Beijing&#8217;s Call — &#8216;China Needs To Make A Deal With Us&#8217;</a></li>
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Photo: Shutterstock

Asia

ASML

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Nvidia Drags Wall Street Down, Gold Defies Gravity Ahead Of Powell Remarks: What's Driving Markets Wednesday?

It&#8217;s been a week since the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF</a> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) jumped 5.39% by afternoon in a surprise midday rally, up from an intraday low of $23.88 to a high of $25.79, before closing further up at $25.87. The price has remained elevated, albeit 1.7% lower than last Wednesday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/04/44824711/etfs-for-the-brave-are-these-high-octane-funds-your-best-bet-to-ride-an-upward-market-">ETFs For The Brave: Are These High-Octane Funds Your Best Bet To Ride An Upward Market Swing?</a>
The spike, which caught traders off guard after a relatively quiet morning of April 9, suggested a potential surge of institutional buying or tactical reallocations—possibly tied to rebalancing or changing interest rate expectations.
While the specific volume figures have not yet been validated, the distinctive price action was noteworthy, particularly relative to key benchmarks such as the S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), both of which also had positive momentum that day. Neither one, however, even came close to SCHD&#8217;s stunning percentage increase.
Market observers suspect this action could be indicative of a wider value and dividend-rich stock rotation, as inflationary anxiety and interest rate uncertainty drive investors onto firmer ground. With mega-cap growth leaders such as Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Meta (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) experiencing double-digit intraday gains, sentiment among ETFs was positive. However, SCHD&#8217;s strength could also be an indicator of something more profound: a reversion to fundamentals.
A Decade Of Discipline: Why SCHD Matters Now
While Wall Street weathers yet another round of tariff-induced volatility, investors yearn for consistency. Boasting a 3.96% SEC 30-day <a href="https://www.schwabassetmanagement.com/products/schd">yield</a>, dividend <a href="https://stockanalysis.com/etf/schd/history/">yield </a>of 4.09%, a sub-0.06% expense ratio, and a long-term value-oriented approach, SCHD has quietly established itself as a steady performer in trying times.
Following the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, SCHD filters for U.S. stocks with 10 or more years of unbroken dividend growth, sorting them by financial stability, cash flow health, return on equity and dividend track record. The outcome? A concentrated portfolio of dividend champions such as Chevron (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) and Altria (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>)—names that have performed better than broader benchmarks through previous crises, including the 2008 meltdown.
Structure Built For Stability
SCHD&#8217;s durability is supported by its diversified strategy. Diversified over 103 holdings in seven sectors—financials (19%), healthcare (17%) and consumer staples (14%), the ETF is sector-diversified while remaining underweight in tech, which overhangs competitors such as the S&amp;P 500, where tech companies alone constitute almost 30%.
This conservative bias translates to a lower beta of 0.81 (a beta of less than 1 means lower vulnerability to volatility) and less downside risk. During previous downturns, staples sectors fell only 20% versus 30%+ declines in tech-heavy indexes, according to Money Morning. When Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) fell 17% earlier this year, SCHD remained steadfast, thanks to its sector capping (no sector >25%) and single-stock exposure limits (no stock >4%).
What&#8217;s Next?
SCHD&#8217;s performance will be shaped by the prospects of its current holdings. Among those with high upside potential are:
Inter Parfums (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IPAR#NASDAQ">IPAR</a>)
Murphy Oil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MUR#NYSE">MUR</a>)
Kforce (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KFRC#NYSE">KFRC</a>)
Conversely, some caution is perhaps justified with:
CNA Financial (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNA#NYSE">CNA</a>)
The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)
Watsco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WSO#NYSE">WSO</a>)
Bottom Line
SCHD doesn&#8217;t pursue hype; it accumulates quietly through consistency. With $65.6 billion in assets and a 53% 5-year total return, it continues to provide a compelling combination of income, value and stability. Its dividend payout ratio of 61.07% and its 16.67% dividend raise last year highlight the fund&#8217;s power of income.
In a world where sentiment and speculation wildly fluctuate, SCHD is a north star for long-term investors because it provides not just peace of mind but reliable outcomes.
Read Next: 
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Photo: Shutterstock

Specialty ETFs

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The Dividend ETF That Just Woke Up And Why Investors Are Watching Closely

Amid the staggering rally in the Gold prices, the gold fund net inflows have hit a record of $80 billion year-to-date, doubling over its previous record high in 2020, according to the BofA Global Investment Strategy report.
What Happened: A BofA Research graph shared by the Kobeissi Letter on X highlights how the investors have been pouring money into gold at a record pace amid the ongoing market uncertainty.
The Gold Spot US Dollar price has rallied 25.95% from $2,623.81 on Dec. 31, 2024, to $3,304.80 per ounce as of today. Its record high stood at $3,318 per ounce as of the publication of this article.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">BREAKING: Gold fund net inflows have hit a record $80 BILLION year-to-date. This is 2 TIMES more than the previous high set in the full year 2020. Investors are pouring money into gold at a record pace as the market uncertainty has skyrocketed. As a result, gold prices have… <a href="https://t.co/GyD3Srw6hu">pic.twitter.com/GyD3Srw6hu</a>
&mdash; The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1912204673240662143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Apart from this, the World Gold Council data for the first quarter released last week highlighted that Gold ETFs saw an inflow of 226.5 metric tons worth $21.1 billion, the largest amount since the first quarter of 2022.
Following this, Gold ETF holdings increased by 3% to 3,445.3 tons by March-end, the highest since May 2023 but below the record 3,915 tons in October 2020. However, the World Gold Council noted that U.S.-listed funds saw the largest inflow in the first quarter with 133.8 tons, followed by Europe-listed funds with 54.8 tons.
All Gold-linked ETFs have risen over 21% year-to-date in 2025.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Gold ETFs</td>
<td>YTD Performance</td>
<td>One Year Performance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FGDL#NYSE">FGDL</a>)</td>
<td>21.75%</td>
<td>35.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAAU#BATS">AAAU</a>)</td>
<td>21.41%</td>
<td>34.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GraniteShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAR#NYSE">BAR</a>)</td>
<td>21.46%</td>
<td>34.99%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VanEck Merk Gold ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OUNZ#NYSE">OUNZ</a>)</td>
<td>21.31%</td>
<td>34.75%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>)</td>
<td>21.33%</td>
<td>34.61%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAU#NYSE">IAU</a>)</td>
<td>21.42%</td>
<td>34.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLDM#NYSE">GLDM</a>)</td>
<td>21.47%</td>
<td>35.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>abrdn Physical Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGOL#NYSE">SGOL</a>)</td>
<td>21.43%</td>
<td>34.92%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>iShares Gold Trust Micro (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAUM#NYSE">IAUM</a>)</td>
<td>21.49%</td>
<td>35.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Invesco DB Precious Metals Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBP#NYSE">DBP</a>)</td>
<td>17.90%</td>
<td>24.48%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a>
Why It Matters: When compared with data from over 25 years, gold prices have skyrocketed 1046.5% from $288.25 on Dec. 31, 1999, to $3,304.80 today. In comparison, the S&amp;P 500 index has risen by 267.31% from 1,469.25 on Dec. 31, 1999, to 5,396.63 as of Tuesday&#8217;s close.
According to Zafar Shaikh, the founder &amp; CEO of Invesys Capital, gold prices have doubled over the last 30 months. This last happened in 2008 and 2011. However, he cautioned that &#8220;So it may still have some juice left but if you are late to the GOLD party, take a deep breath &amp; let it pass rather than getting attracted by $5000 targets.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">30 months since <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GOLD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GOLD</a> started bullrun in 2022 &amp; it&#39;s up 100% Other times when GOLD doubled in 30M was in 2008 &amp; 2011 which was followed by major correction or top for gold So it may still have some juice left but if you are late to the GOLD party, take a deep breath &amp; let it… <a href="https://t.co/glE8ikwflx">pic.twitter.com/glE8ikwflx</a>
&mdash; Zafar Shaikh (@InvesysCapital) <a href="https://twitter.com/InvesysCapital/status/1912436389808906283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, Christopher Aaron, the founder of iGold Advisor, highlighted the Dow-to-Gold ratio in a chart, which showed that the ratio had broken a 45-year best-fit trend. The chart said that this pattern suggested that gold could outpace general equities over the next several decades.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">No one is paying attention to this chart &#8212; and it is the single most important chart in all of finance&#8230;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gold</a> <a href="https://t.co/MQnJgUT5mp">pic.twitter.com/MQnJgUT5mp</a>
&mdash; Christopher Aaron (@iGlobalGold) <a href="https://twitter.com/iGlobalGold/status/1912289374584328695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Economist Peter Schiff, on the other hand, spoke about gold mining stocks and said in a X post that &#8220;The time to invest in gold mining stocks is now before the market surges again!&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Gold&#39;s explosive rally from $2,000 to $3,000 caught investors off guard, and now it&#39;s aiming for $3,500. With China's economic grip tightening, is the US prepared for a shift in the global balance? The time to invest in gold mining stocks is now before the market surges again!… <a href="https://t.co/eys6gXzJYV">pic.twitter.com/eys6gXzJYV</a>
&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1912429831582626183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Price Action: Gold was trading at $3,304.80, whereas the ETF tracking the S&amp;P 500 index, SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), was down 0.73% in premarket.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44832789/sp-500-typically-gains-18-in-a-year-after-vix-drops-from-50-to-30-level-heres-what-analysts-say">S&amp;P 500 Typically Gains 18% In A Year After VIX Drops From 50 To 30 Level: Here&#8217;s What Analysts Say</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Gold Fund Inflows Smash Record With $80 Billion In 2025 — These ETFs Are Riding The $3,300 Surge

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said that China couldn&#8217;t sell U.S. Treasuries to destabilize the financial markets, as it would affect their economy by weakening their currency.
What Happened: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44812727/bessent-says-tariffs-on-china-are-far-from-a-joke-dismisses-treasury-dumping-fears">Bessent</a>, while speaking to Yahoo Finance, reiterated that there was no purpose for China to &#8220;weaponize&#8221; the U.S. Treasuries, as such a move could affect China&#8217;s own economy.
&#8220;If they started selling Treasuries, they&#8217;d have an effect on the price. But more importantly, they accumulate dollars, and what are they gonna do with the dollars?&#8221; asked Bessent.
&#8220;So if they sell Treasuries, then they would have to sell RMB, and it would strengthen their currency, and they&#8217;ve been doing just the opposite. They&#8217;ve had a weak RMB or Yuan policy. So, it really serves no purpose for them to weaponize Treasuries.&#8221;
China is an export-oriented economy that manufactures many goods and services on its soil. The export-oriented economies generally benefit from a weaker currency. A weaker currency makes a country&#8217;s exports more competitive in the global market by making them cheaper for foreign buyers. This can lead to increased demand for exports, potentially boosting economic growth and creating jobs.
When asked if China still decides to sell U.S. Treasuries regardless of the effect on their currency, Bessent reiterated confidence in the government and the Federal Reserve&#8217;s ability to handle the situation.
&#8220;We have a big toolkit, we do buybacks, and the Federal Reserve has Treasuries at a certain level. If the Federal Reserve believed that a foreign rival were weaponizing the U.S. government bond market or attempting to destabilize it for political gains, I am sure that we would do something in conjunction with each other, but we just haven&#8217;t seen that,&#8221; he said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"It really serves no purpose for them to weaponize Treasuries," US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent says on potential fears of Chinese economic retaliation. <a href="https://t.co/5tY8Knuie6">pic.twitter.com/5tY8Knuie6</a>
&mdash; Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooFinance/status/1912240941517119801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a>
Why It Matters: Many analysts believed that a &#8220;Trump put,&#8221; from last week to pause the trade implementation for 90 days, was caused by the turbulence in the bond markets.
Schwab&#8217;s Chief Fixed Income Strategist, Kathy Jones, highlighted the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44808935/charles-schwab-tells-investors-to-prioritize-low-volatility-high-quality-investment">divergence between the U.S. dollar and interest rates</a>, confirming foreign selling of Treasuries.
"The dollar fell sharply while yields rose sharply. That does suggest foreign selling was a factor. But it also smacks of a loss of confidence in the United States as a perceived safe haven, which isn't good for the world's reserve currency. This is the type of action you see in emerging markets when volatility hits," said Jones.
While President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he paused the tariffs owing to the negotiation attempts by 75 countries, many analysts believed otherwise.
&#8220;In the end, Trump's stunning about face on tariffs was driven by chaos in the bond market including soaring 10yr and 30yr treasury yields," said Gary Black, the managing partner, the Future Fund LLC.
Ed Yardeni from Yardeni Research said, &#8220;Bond vigilantes hit another homerun.&#8221; Whereas, economist Craig Shapiro said, &#8220;China, just by threatening to sell USTs, basically blew up the bond market and forced the admin to backtrack.&#8221;
In the most recent action, the U.S. increased tariffs on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">China by 245%</a> on late Tuesday.
Price Action: The Dow closed Tuesday 10.44% below its 52-week peak of 45,073.63. The S&amp;P 500 ended 12.21% off its 6,147.43 high, and the Nasdaq 100 was 15.27% below its 22,222.61 record.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were lower in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was down 0.77% to $533.47, while the QQQ declined 1.43% to $451.42, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44807265/cathie-wood-says-shock-therapy-from-trumps-trade-moves-may-end-prolonged-economic-slump" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Says ‘Shock Therapy' From Trump's Trade Moves May End Prolonged Economic Slump</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock

Scott Bessent Says China Won't 'Weaponize' US Treasuries, Citing Risk To RMB And Exports: 'We Do Buybacks'

Gold prices surged to an unprecedented high above $3,300 per ounce on Wednesday as stock market futures declined amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and China.
What Happened: Spot gold jumped 1.72% to $3,306.90, extending its remarkable 23.45% rally since President Donald Trump&#8216;s January inauguration, when the precious metal traded near $2,678.
The rally comes as futures markets signal trouble ahead for equities. Nasdaq-100 futures fell 1.06% to 18,758.75, while S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.42% to 5,405.25. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures showed minimal loss, down 0.09% to 40,536.
The White House announced late Tuesday that Chinese imports now face tariffs of up to 245% following a series of retaliatory actions between <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">the two economic powers</a>. The tariff war has intensified dramatically since Trump took office, beginning with a 20% levy that has progressively increased through multiple rounds of escalation.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44832638/despite-unrealized-losses-semler-scientific-plans-500-million-securities-offering-to-boost-bitcoin-holdings">Despite Unrealized Losses, Semler Scientific Plans $500 Million Securities Offering To Boost Bitcoin Holdings</a>
Why It Matters: &#8220;China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions,&#8221; according to the White House fact sheet. The latest increase focuses particularly on critical minerals and derivative products that the administration deems essential for U.S. defense <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">capabilities and technological innovation</a>.
The market reaction underscores investor concerns about economic growth prospects as the two largest economies continue their confrontation, driving capital toward traditional safe havens like gold while adding pressure to technology stocks that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44830391/us-stock-futures-nikkei-slip-amid-fresh-nvidia-headwinds-dollar-continues-to-lose-steam">depend heavily on global supply chains</a>.
The Dow Jones fell by approximately 156 points to close at 40,368.96 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500, tracked by SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), declined 0.17% to 5,396.63, while the Nasdaq Composite, tracked by Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), edged down 0.05% to 16,823.17.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/04/44824856/retail-traders-rush-into-leveraged-tech-etfs-betting-on-nasdaq-rebound-after-sharp-drop">Retail Traders Rush Into Leveraged Tech ETFs, Betting On Nasdaq Rebound After Sharp Drop</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Gold Surges Above $3,300 To Record High As US-China Trade War Escalates With 245% Tariff

U.S. stock futures declined on Wednesday following a muted day of trading on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.
The Donald Trump administration levied a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle"> 245% tariff on China</a> late Tuesday. &#8220;China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions,&#8221; stated a White House fact sheet.
Meanwhile, the new U.S. export restrictions halting the shipments of Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker"> H20 graphics processing units to China</a> were announced. The announcement comes after the U.S. government informed the company on April 9 that it would now require a license to export those chips.
The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.31% and the two-year bond was at 3.81%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool&#8217;s </a>projections show markets pricing a 79.9% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Futures</td>
<td>Change (+/-)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.44%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>-1.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>-0.35%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was down 0.67% to $534.02, while the QQQ declined 1.27% to $452.17, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Cues From Last Session:
Weighing on U.S. stocks Tuesday, the consumer discretionary, health care, and consumer staples sectors saw the biggest declines.
Bucking the trend, however, information technology and real estate stocks closed higher.
The market moves came as Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, while economic data showed a rise in the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index and flat export prices alongside a slight drop in import prices for March.
The Dow closed Tuesday 10.44% below its 52-week peak of 45,073.63. The S&amp;P 500 ended 12.21% off its 6,147.43 high, and the Nasdaq 100 was 15.27% below its 22,222.61 record.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Index</td>
<td>Performance (+/-)</td>
<td>Value</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq Composite</td>
<td>-0.049%</td>
<td>16,823.17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>-0.17%</td>
<td>5,396.63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>-0.38%</td>
<td>40,368.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>0.11%</td>
<td>1,882.92</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Insights From Analysts:
According to Mona Mahajan of Edward Jones, the stock valuations were not stretched anymore. &#8220;While market returns have been negative this year, the upside is that valuations are now looking more compelling and are no longer stretched, which was a concern coming into this year.&#8221;
She highlighted that all major indexes were trading at or below their 10-year historical forward price-to-earnings multiples, potentially setting the stage for improved long-term returns.
The S&amp;P 500 forward multiple was around 18 times next year&#8217;s earnings forecast, down from a recent high of 22.7 times, while the Nasdaq forward multiple was about 21 times, down from its recent high of 30 times.
&#8220;In our view, the spike in volatility, a reset in valuations, and signs that the worst-case scenario in the trade war appears to be averted suggest that stocks may find some support and try to carve out a bottom. Risks have risen, but a recession is not inevitable in our view, and stocks appear to have already priced in a significant degree of bad outcomes,&#8221; she added.
Jason Goepfert of White Oak Consultancy LLC noted a historical pattern: whenever the VIX fear index drops from above 50 to the 30 level, the S&amp;P 500 has historically achieved 100% positive gains by year-end.
However, he points out that in the most recent such cycle in May 2020, the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s return after a year was 42.96%. Goepfert&#8217;s analysis of similar cycles in 2009, 2002, and 1988 also reveals a short-term median loss of 0.7% for the S&amp;P 500 in the week following the VIX&#8217;s drop to 30.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The VIX cycle from &gt; 50 to &lt; 30 is on track to trigger today. A bear killer. <a href="https://t.co/rzvdiBw37G">pic.twitter.com/rzvdiBw37G</a>
&mdash; Jason Goepfert (@jasongoepfert) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasongoepfert/status/1912145727448363174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
According to an X post by Charlie Bilello of Creative Planning, historical data since 1990 showed that the S&amp;P 500 has delivered an average return of 35% in the year following a VIX close above 50, and 129% over the subsequent five years.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VIX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VIX</a> closed above 50 last week for the first time since April 2020. In the past, what has that meant for stocks going forward? Video discussion: <a href="https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH">https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH</a> <a href="https://t.co/iEy9Wb5myJ">pic.twitter.com/iEy9Wb5myJ</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912220992963035233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>
Upcoming Economic Data
Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Wednesday:
<ul>
<li>March&#8217;s U.S. retail sales will be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Industrial production and capacity utilization data for March will be announced at 9:15 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Business inventories for February and the home builder confidence index for April will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will speak at noon.</li>
</ul>
Stocks In Focus:
<ul>
<li>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>) rose 0.74% in premarket on Wednesday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $1.07 per share on revenue of $10.40 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) was up 0.076% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 80 cents per share on revenue of $10.82 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Progressive Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) fell 0.01% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $4.81 per share on revenue of $21.63 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) dropped 4.2% despite beating earnings estimates as its revenue and EPS fell on a sequential basis.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>J B Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) dropped 6.28% after reporting a 7.6% decline in profit for the first quarter. The company posted quarterly revenue of $2.92 billion, compared to market estimates of $2.90 billion.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>iCAD Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICAD#NASDAQ">ICAD</a>) surged 72.02% and Radnet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDNT#NASDAQ">RDNT</a>) fell 2.03% after they announced a definitive all-stock merger agreement where RadNet will acquire iCAD.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>La Rosa Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRHC#NASDAQ">LRHC</a>) jumped 119.16% after Nasdaq granted a 180-day extension, until October 6, 2025, to regain the $1.00 minimum bid price for continued listing under &#8216;LRHC&#8217;.</li>
</ul>
Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:
Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.60% to hover around $61.70 per barrel.
Gold Spot US Dollar advanced 2.38% to hover around $3,304.35 per ounce. Its fresh record high stood at $3,318 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.51% at the 99.7040 level.
Asian markets declined on Wednesday, except India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300 index. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's ASX 200, and South Korea's Kospi index ended lower. European markets were also mostly lower in early trade.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

ICAD

LRHC

RDNT

US Stock Likely To Open Lower As US-China Tariff War Continues: 'Valuations Are Now Looking More Compelling,' Says Expert

The S&amp;P 500 has given a 17.9% median return each time the CBOE Volatility Index has fallen from over 50 to the 30 level. Analysts highlight historical trends showing how volatility cycles lead to advances in the S&amp;P 500 index.
What Happened: According to Jason Goepfert, a consultant at White Oak Consultancy LLC, each time the fear index, VIX, goes through a cycle of being above 50 to falling to the 30 level, the S&amp;P 500 index logs in 100% of positive gains by the end of that year.
According to the data highlighted by Goepfert, during the most recent VIX cycle of 50-to-30 in May 2020, the S&amp;P 500 returned 42.96% after one year.
He highlighted data from similar such cycles from 2009, 2002, and 1988. However, historically, the S&amp;P 500 logs a 0.7% median loss after the first week on ending the said 50-to-30 VIX cycle.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The VIX cycle from &gt; 50 to &lt; 30 is on track to trigger today. A bear killer. <a href="https://t.co/rzvdiBw37G">pic.twitter.com/rzvdiBw37G</a>
&mdash; Jason Goepfert (@jasongoepfert) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasongoepfert/status/1912145727448363174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Meanwhile, Charlie Bilello of Creative Planning highlighted in his X post how the S&amp;P 500 has reacted after VIX has closed above 50 since 1990.
On average, whenever the VIX has closed above 50, the S&amp;P 500 has returned 35% over one year and 129% over the next five years.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VIX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VIX</a> closed above 50 last week for the first time since April 2020. In the past, what has that meant for stocks going forward? Video discussion: <a href="https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH">https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH</a> <a href="https://t.co/iEy9Wb5myJ">pic.twitter.com/iEy9Wb5myJ</a>
&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912220992963035233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44810625/top-analyst-sees-unprecedented-traction-for-pltr-stock-after-nato-agreement-another-validation-sign" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top Analyst Sees ‘Unprecedented Traction' For PLTR Stock After NATO Agreement: ‘Another Validation Sign'</a>
Why It Matters: The stocks bounced back last week after President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause for reciprocal tariffs on its trading partners, except China. On Tuesday, the U.S. raised tariffs on goods imported from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">China to up to 245%</a>.
The Dow closed Tuesday 10.44% below its 52-week peak of 45,073.63. The S&amp;P 500 ended 12.21% off its 6,147.43 high, and the Nasdaq 100 was 15.27% below its 22,222.61 record.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended on a mixed note on Tuesday. The SPY was up 0.28% to $537.61, while the QQQ advanced 0.11% to $457.99, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
On Wednesday, SPY was down 1.45% and QQQ dropped 2.23%. The Dow Jones futures dropped by 0.78%, the S&amp;P 500 futures were lower by 1.39%, and the Nasdaq 100 declined by 2.14%.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Gorodenkoff / Shutterstock.com

S&P 500 Typically Gains 18% In A Year After VIX Drops From 50 To 30 Level: Here's What Analysts Say

ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings as its revenue and earnings per share beat analyst estimates on Wednesday.
What Happened: A Dutch lithography equipment supplier to Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), ASML, reported its first-quarter revenue of €7.742 billion or $8.764 billion, beating analyst estimates of $7.760 billion by 12.94%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ASML/earnings">Benzinga</a>.
Sequentially, the revenue declined by 16.75% from €9.3 billion in the fourth quarter.
It reported basic earnings of €6 or $6.83 per share, 18.58% above estimates of $5.760. However, it declined sequentially by 12.41% from €6.85 per share in the fourth quarter.
The company&#8217;s gross profit stood at €4.180 billion or $4.757 billion, down 12.73% from €4.790 billion in the fourth quarter.
&#8220;Our first-quarter total net sales came in at €7.7 billion, in line with our guidance. The gross margin was 54.0%, above guidance, driven by a favorable EUV product mix and the achievement of performance milestones. In the first quarter, we shipped our fifth High NA system, and we now have these systems at three customers,&#8221; said the CEO of ASML, Christophe Fouquet.
Buyback: In the first quarter, ASML purchased around €2.7 billion worth of shares under the current 2022-2025 share buyback program.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a>
Guidance: &#8220;We expect second-quarter total net sales between €7.2 billion and €7.7 billion, with a gross margin between 50% and 53%. We expect R&amp;D costs of around €1.2 billion and SG&amp;A costs of around €300 million. As we previously communicated, we expect total net sales for the year between €30 billion and €35 billion, with a gross margin between 51% and 53%, subject to the uncertainties mentioned earlier,&#8221; said Fouquet.
Price Action: ASML ended 1.53% higher on Tuesday at $683.16 apiece, the exchange-traded fund tracking the Nasdaq 100 index, Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), on the other hand, rose just 0.11%.
ASML has declined 2.46% on a year-to-date basis, whereas it has dropped 30.07% over a year.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate that ASML has a weaker price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was weak at the 23.73th percentile, whereas its growth and value rankings were mixed; more details on the fundamentals are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/report/ASML"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="979" height="151" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035324/ASML-EDGE.png" alt="" class="wp-image-873626" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035324/ASML-EDGE.png 979w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035324/ASML-EDGE-300x46.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035324/ASML-EDGE-768x118.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px" /></a></figure>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ASML/analyst-ratings">Benzinga&#8217;s analysis of 13 analysts</a> shows a consensus &#8220;buy&#8221; rating for the stock, with an average price target of $873.14, ranging from $510 to $1100. Recent ratings from JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Bernstein average $909, suggesting a 35.02% potential upside.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ASML/analyst-ratings"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="385" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035303/ASML-Q1-ANR-1024x385.png" alt="" class="wp-image-873625" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035303/ASML-Q1-ANR-1024x385.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035303/ASML-Q1-ANR-300x113.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035303/ASML-Q1-ANR-768x289.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16035303/ASML-Q1-ANR.png 1144w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44807265/cathie-wood-says-shock-therapy-from-trumps-trade-moves-may-end-prolonged-economic-slump" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathie Wood Says ‘Shock Therapy' From Trump's Trade Moves May End Prolonged Economic Slump</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Skorzewiak / Shutterstock.com

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Guidance

Nvidia Supplier ASML Beats Revenue, EPS Estimates: EUV Product Mix, Performance Milestones Drive Q1, Says CEO

Amid the ongoing tariff dispute between the U.S. and China, a White House fact sheet has revealed that President Donald Trump&#8216;s administration has raised tariffs on Chinese imports by up to 245%.
What Happened: According to a fact sheet released by the White House late Tuesday, &#8220;China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions.&#8221;
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Tariff Timeline:</h4>
<ul>
<li>The tariff war started with President Trump imposing a 20% tariff on China after he took office, a 34% levy on April 2nd, and an additional 50% duty in response to China&#8217;s retaliatory threats, dramatically heightening the initial tariffs to 104%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>China responded to this by increasing its tariffs by 84%. Trump later hiked the 104% to 125% &#8220;based on the lack of respect&#8221; from China, according to him.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Eventually, last week on Friday, China too raised its levies on U.S. imports to 125%, while U.S. tariffs on China stood at 145%.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>However, in the latest White House fact sheet, which focuses on the tariffs on foreign critical minerals and their derivative products, Trump also announced a tariff hike of up to 245% on Chinese imports.</li>
</ul>
The tariffs on critical minerals and their derivative products were levied to protect the U.S. defense capabilities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation, as per the fact sheet. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44807265/cathie-wood-says-shock-therapy-from-trumps-trade-moves-may-end-prolonged-economic-slump">Cathie Wood Says &#8216;Shock Therapy&#8217; From Trump&#8217;s Trade Moves May End Prolonged Economic Slump</a>
Why It Matters: China is one of the major exporters to the U.S. According to a recent report by Reuters, no other country comes close to matching China&#8217;s sales of more than $400 billion in goods to the U.S. each year.
While the other countries are in the process of negotiating lower tariffs during the 90-day pause, the battle between China and the U.S. is heating up.
Ahead of the 245% hike on Tuesday, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/12/business/economy/china-tariff-product-costs.html">report</a> broke down the China tariffs on various products imported into the U.S.
According to that report, the imports of syringes and needles had the highest tariff rate of 245%, followed by lithium-ion batteries of 173%, squid with 170%, wool sweaters with 169%, and 159% on plastic dishes. While these were the top five tariffed products, the children&#8217;s books had 0% tariff, being the lowest tariffed products.
Price Action: The CSI 300 Index was trading 0.70% lower as of the publication of this article, whereas the futures on Dow Jones dropped by 0.47%, the S&amp;P 500 futures were lower by 1.03%, and the Nasdaq 100 declined 1.69% on Wednesday.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended on a mixed note on Tuesday. The SPY was up 0.28% to $537.61, while the QQQ advanced 0.11% to $457.99, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44810625/top-analyst-sees-unprecedented-traction-for-pltr-stock-after-nato-agreement-another-validation-sign">Top Analyst Sees &#8216;Unprecedented Traction&#8217; For PLTR Stock After NATO Agreement: &#8216;Another Validation Sign&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

China Now Faces Up To 245% Tariffs On Certain Imports, Says White House: Here's What You Should Know

As the Nasdaq 100 reeled from April's tariff-driven sell-off, retail traders doubled down on risk rather than retreating, injecting billions into ultra-leveraged tech ETFs in a high-stakes bet on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">a swift market rebound.</a>
While the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) — the world's largest ETF tracking the Nasdaq 100 — pulled in $4.44 billion in inflows last Thursday, marking its biggest single-day influx since March 2021, the real fireworks erupted in the most leveraged corner of the tech market.
The trading activity revealed a bold resurgence of dip-buying appetite, particularly in vehicles designed to magnify returns from the Nasdaq 100 Index. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">TQQQ Becomes The Go-To Vehicle For Tech Dip-Buying Mania</h3>
According to ETF.com's senior analyst Sumit Roy, "Nowhere is this phenomenon more obvious than in the ProShares UltraPro QQQ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TQQQ#NASDAQ">TQQQ</a>), the No. 1 ‘buy-the-dip' target among traders."
Despite plunging 57% from its February high to its early-April trough, traders continued pouring money into the ETF. 
Since Feb. 19, TQQQ has seen $7.1 billion in net inflows—$3.1 billion of which arrived after April 2, the day President Donald Trump reignited trade war fears by announcing new "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners.
This surge in interest reflects not just dip-buying behavior, but leveraged dip-buying, underscoring a growing appetite for risk in a market environment defined by geopolitical uncertainty and heightened volatility.
On April 3, the ETF dropped 16%, followed by another 18% loss on April 4. Then, just five days later, it rocketed 35% higher.
From its low on April 9, TQQQ has surged nearly 30%, clawing back losses but still sitting 45% below its February peak. The Nasdaq 100 itself dropped 23% at its worst point during the same stretch.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">History Repeats? Traders Eye 2022-24&#8217;s 477% Rally</h3>
The current setup has echoes of the 2022 bear market. Back then, the Nasdaq 100 tumbled 35% from peak to trough amid aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes. 
TQQQ lost a staggering 80% during that period—but for those who caught the exact bottom, the rewards were extraordinary. The ETF rallied 477% between its 2022 low and its December 2024 peak.
&#8220;The prospect of that type of massive gain is luring traders to pour money into the ETF,&#8221; said Roy. 
&#8220;Of course, there's no guarantee that things will play out like they did last time. In fact, the only thing you can count on with TQQQ is volatility,&#8221; he added.
Despite the broader economic uncertainty tied to tariffs, traders seem undeterred, leaning into heightened volatility in search of strong upside potential.
The takeaway from recent flows is clear: investors are ready to ride out the market's twists and turns.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44816653/canada-eases-retaliatory-tariffs-on-us-goods-as-trade-tensions-thaw-under-softer-trump-stance-stocks-react">Canada Eases Retaliatory Tariffs On US Goods As Trade Tensions Thaw Under Softer Trump Stance: Stocks React</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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