U.S. stock index futures edged higher in Asian trade on Monday after reports emerged that President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariffs will be narrower and less strict than initially feared. According to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal, Trump is set to forgo imposing broad sectoral tariffs on industries like automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and select commodities. Instead, his administration plans to limit reciprocal tariffs to about 15 countries with significant trade imbalances.
This development comes on the heels of last week’s market rebound—after stock indices had slumped to six-month lows in early March—though the market remains near correction territory. At 01:34 ET (05:34 GMT), futures were showing modest gains:
S&P 500 Futures: Up 0.7% to 5,756.50 points
Nasdaq 100 Futures: Up 0.8% to 20,119.00 points
Dow Jones Futures: Up 0.6% to 42,552.0 points
Analysts believe that the softer tariff stance may help ease investor concerns about rising inflation and disrupted global trade, while potentially mitigating the economic impact of Trump's trade policies. However, with ongoing uncertainties in both U.S. and international trade dynamics, market volatility is likely to persist.
To monitor these developments and assess the technical outlook of U.S. stock indices, consider using these Financial Modeling Prep APIs:
\u2705 Technical (Williams %R) API
Utilize this API to evaluate whether U.S. stock indices are overbought or oversold, providing insights into potential turning points in market sentiment.
\u2705 Technical (StdDev) API
Monitor market volatility and price momentum to gauge the impact of easing tariff fears on the stock market.
While Trump’s move to narrow the scope of upcoming tariffs has provided some relief—helping U.S. stock futures recover from recent lows—persistent uncertainties about global trade and economic policy continue to pose risks. By leveraging technical insights from the Williams %R and StdDev APIs, investors can better navigate the market’s ongoing volatility and make more informed decisions as the situation evolves.
