US stocks swiftly pare gains as White House confirms 104% tariffs on China
US stocks are falling out of bed, with the S&P 500 completely retracing an advance of 4% on confirmation that an escalating trade war is indeed happening.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the additional 50% tariffs imposed on China following its retaliatory tariffs on the US are going into effect.
Here’s this headline, which is definitely real:
*LEAVITT: US TO IMPOSE 104% TARIFFS ON CHINA TOMORROW: FOX BIZ
A Goldman Sachs basket of US stocks with high exposure to China (ex semiconductors) is in the red and lagging the benchmark US stock index, with the underperformance swelling after that headline hit the wires.
One lesson from Monday’s mayhem — and a factor behind Tuesday’s early gains — is that traders are desperately looking for, and believing in, potential off-ramps from highly disruptive trade levies. The recent price action may serve as a portent of what awaits if the current policy course we’re on stays intact.