From Yahoo Finance: 2025-04-16 22:39:00

Most Wall Street stocks held steady, with the dollar rising on Thursday amid trade talks between the US, Japan, and Italy. The Federal Reserve Chair’s cautious stance on interest rate cuts tempered the positive sentiment. The S&P 500 edged up, while the Nasdaq dipped slightly on tech earnings news.

Alphabet shares dropped after a judge ruled Google had illegally dominated online advertising markets. The Dow Jones fell due to UnitedHealth’s disappointing earnings report, leading to a selloff in healthcare shares. President Trump’s involvement in trade talks with Japan and Italy provided some optimism for tariff negotiations.

The European Central Bank cut rates by 25 basis points, citing trade uncertainty affecting confidence. FX analyst Kirstine Kundby-Mielsen noted a dovish tone in the ECB’s statement. The STOXX 600 index was down slightly, and the euro weakened against the dollar. Central banks’ decisions were in focus amid trade tensions and market volatility.

Fed Chair Powell’s caution on interest rates and tariff risks was highlighted. Trump’s calls for rate cuts and criticism of Powell added to economic uncertainty. Concerns of stagflation led to market worries. The IMF predicted downward revisions in economic forecasts due to global trade shifts. The dollar fluctuated amid market turmoil and safe-haven demand.

Oil prices rose on hopes of a US-EU trade deal and new US sanctions on Iranian oil exports. Gold prices fell slightly as safe-haven demand subsided. The yen briefly strengthened before reversing course. Overall, market reactions were mixed amid ongoing trade tensions and central bank decisions.

Read more: Wall Street pauses stock, dollar sell-off amid trade talks