Wall Street declines as dollar strengthens on tariff news

Wall Street had a mixed day on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he might be flexible about upcoming tariffs. His comments led to a rise in the dollar, but many investors remained cautious due to ongoing economic uncertainties and global tensions. All three major U.S. stock indexes saw losses, especially in sectors sensitive to the economy, such as technology and materials. Gold prices dipped slightly but stayed above $3,000 per ounce, a mark they reached last week. Experts are expressing concern about the current investment climate. Terry Sandven, a strategist at U.S. Bank Wealth Management, mentioned that the increasing uncertainty is affecting both consumer and investor confidence. Key figures from the Federal Reserve stated it is too early to assess the impacts of Trump's tariff policies. Global issues also affected the markets. Airstrikes in Gaza and a significant drone attack in Ukraine raised risk concerns. Additionally, a large fire at London’s Heathrow Airport disrupted operations, compounding investor anxiety. In Europe, shares fell, though the STOXX Euro 600 managed to post a weekly gain. Meanwhile, emerging markets and Asian stocks also declined. The dollar strengthened against the euro and the yen, driven by uncertainties ahead of the April 2 tariff deadline. U.S. Treasury yields rose after Trump's tariff hints, ending a four-day drop. Crude oil prices increased slightly, while gold prices paused for a correction against the stronger dollar, remaining on track for a weekly gain.