China&#8217;s finance ministry has announced a 34% tariff on all goods imported from the U.S., effective from April 10. This decision comes as a response to the U.S. administration&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44644765/tom-lee-predicts-a-market-rebound-after-april-9-as-absurd-tariffs-could-spur-potential-negotiations">earlier imposed duties.</a>



What Happened: China&#8217;s finance ministry has declared&nbsp;a 34% tariff on all&nbsp;U.S. imports, starting April 10. This action is a retaliation to the duties imposed by the U.S. administration earlier in the week.



&#8220;China urges the United States to immediately cancel its unilateral tariff measures and resolve trade differences through consultation in an equal, respectful and mutually beneficial manner,&#8221; stated the Chinese finance ministry. 



The ministry criticized the U.S. approach, stating that it violates international trade rules, harms China&#8217;s legitimate rights and interests, and represents unilateral bullying. Beijing called the 54% U.S. tariffs on China "inconsistent with international trade rules". This not only damages the U.S. economy but also threatens global economic growth and the stability of production and supply chains, the ministry further stated.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44643368/donald-trump-says-market-is-going-to-boom-claiming-6-7-trillion-worth-of-inflows-will-come" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump Says &#8216;Market Is Going To Boom,&#8217; Claiming &#8216;$6-7 Trillion&#8217; Worth Of Inflows Will Come After The Worst Selloff Since 2020</a>



As <a href="https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3305260/china-hits-back-us-34-tariff-american-imports-retaliation-trumps-move?module=top_story&amp;pgtype=homepage">reported </a>by the South China Morning Post, as part of its retaliatory actions, Beijing has imposed restrictions on certain Chinese exports to 16 American companies and revoked the export eligibility of six U.S.-affiliated firms.



China added 11 more U.S. companies, including drone maker Skydio, to its unreliable entities list and announced further restrictions on rare earth mineral exports.



Why It Matters: This move by China comes in the wake of President Donald Trump&#8216;s announcement that the U.S. was nearing a deal to spare TikTok from a potential ban, with ongoing discussions involving multiple investors and a possible tariff agreement with China. 



During remarks aboard Air Force One, as reported by Associated Press, Trump said, &#8220;Tariffs give you great power to negotiate&#8221;. Trump stated that he expects China to call him and say,  &#8220;Well we&#8217;re upset with the tariffs and maybe they want to get something a little bit in order to get TikTok approved.&#8221; 



Sources told Senior Correspondent of Fox Business, Charles Gasparino, that trade negotiations with China will involve TikTok and BlackRock&#8217;s deal to acquire ports from CK Hutchison. Trump may adjust China tariffs to secure Chinese President Xi Jinping&#8216;s cooperation on these issues.



<ul>
<li>READ NEXT:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44622724/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-urges-investors-to-move-over-60-40-model-to-50-30-20-strategy-may-no-longer-full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Urges Investors To Move Over 60/40 Model To 50/30/20 Strategy: &#8216;&#8230;May No Longer Fully Represent True Diversification&#8217;</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.

News

Economics

General

China Retaliates With 34% Tariff On All US Imports, Urges Trump To Immediately Cancel The Tariffs, Calls For Negotiation

U.S. stock futures declined on Friday after a bloodbath on Thursday following the introduction of President Donald Trump&#8216;s tariffs. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket trading.



Fueled by a broad market downturn, the Dow Jones plummeted by a staggering 1,679 points, its fifth-largest drop ever, while the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq suffered their biggest single-day losses since June and March 2020, respectively.



Trump, however, dismissed the tariff-induced selloff and said, &#8220;The market is going to boom, the stock is going to boom, the country is going to boom.&#8221;



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 3.94% and the two-year bond was at 3.61%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a> shows markets pricing in a 69.4% likelihood of the Federal Reserve maintaining current interest rates through its May meeting.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-1.00%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.78%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.54%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-1.42%</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, declined in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.71% to $532.87, while the QQQ declined 0.62% to $447.85, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Technology sectors bore the brunt of Thursday&#8217;s U.S. stock market downturn. Specifically, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares plummeted approximately 9.3%, marking their steepest single-day decline since March 2020. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) also saw a significant drop, tumbling 7.8%, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) shares fell by 8.98%. Across the broader market, consumer discretionary, energy, and information technology stocks registered the most substantial losses within the S&amp;P 500.



In contrast, consumer staples stocks stood out, bucking the prevailing negative trend and closing the session higher. This sector&#8217;s resilience was highlighted by Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LW#NYSE">LW</a>), whose shares surged 10% after the company released third-quarter financial results that exceeded expectations and provided FY25 sales guidance above analyst estimates.



Economic data released Thursday presented a mixed picture. U.S. initial jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to 219,000 for the week ending March 29, falling below the anticipated 225,000. Additionally, the U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $122.7 billion in February, improving from $130.7 billion in January and slightly better than the forecasted $123.5 billion. However, the ISM services PMI declined to 50.8 in March, down from 53.5 in February and below market expectations of 53.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>-5.97%</td><td>16,550.60</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-4.84%</td><td>5,396.52</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-3.98%</td><td>40,545.93</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-6.59%</td><td>1,910.55</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer compared Trump&#8217;s tariffs to historical tariff regimes in the U.S., in an X post. he said, &#8220;It is not pro-tariff v. anti-tariff. It&#8217;s about accomplishing what&#8217;s good for our country while not having a Smoot-Hawley situation.&#8221;



The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, enacted in 1930, was a US law that significantly increased tariffs on imported goods, intended to protect American businesses and farmers, but ultimately worsened the Great Depression by triggering a global trade war.



However, he added that tariff-induced selloff on Thursday was &#8220;100% Smoot Hawley disguised as thoughtful policy. The market was RIGHT to go down.&#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">It is not pro-tariff v. anti-tariff. It&#39;s about accomplishing what&#39;s good for our country while not having a Smoot Hawley situation. Yesterday was 100% Smoot Hawley disguised as thoughtful policy. The market was RIGHT to go down&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1908066366805991875?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



AQR Capital Management&#8217;s Chief Investment Officer, Cliff Asness, took to X on Thursday to voice his criticism of tariff proponents, specifically disputing the assertion that tariffs result in deflation instead of inflation.



His remarks were a direct response to Anthony Pompliano, the Founder &amp; CEO of Professional Capital Management and a well-known Bitcoin advocate, who had previously claimed, &#8220;Tariffs don't create inflation. The exact opposite happens."



<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">Idiots say this and bray like they've scored a great point. What they mean is giant arbitrary tariffs are so bad they eventually cause recessions which then cause deflation. They then present this as a feature. And if they don't mean that they are even more wrong in some… <a href="https://t.co/ZihK0rbRU0">https://t.co/ZihK0rbRU0</a>&mdash; Clifford Asness (@CliffordAsness) <a href="https://twitter.com/CliffordAsness/status/1907915579324760564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Creative Planning&#8217;s chief market strategist, Charlie Bilello, noted that the VIX index reached its highest closing level since Aug. 5, 2024.



He suggested this increase in fear, coupled with lower stock prices, presents enhanced opportunities for investors with a long-term perspective. Bilello also pointed to historical trends, indicating that the S&amp;P 500 has historically delivered &#8220;higher than average&#8221; returns following significant surges in volatility.



He shared data showing that after a comparable spike on Aug. 5, 2024, the S&amp;P 500 returned 6% in one month, 11% in three months, and 18% over six months. On average, Bilello highlighted, the S&amp;P 500 has gained 12% six months after such volatility spikes and 21% after a year.



In an X post, Bilello summarized, &#8220;More Fear = More Opportunity.&#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">The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VIX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VIX</a> spiked nearly 40% higher today and closed above 30 for the first time since last August. What has happened in the past following the biggest volatility spikes? Higher than average forward S&amp;P 500 returns. More Fear = More Opportunity<a href="https://t.co/wMMGtwYloS">https://t.co/wMMGtwYloS</a> <a href="https://t.co/vVEN5vUBD1">pic.twitter.com/vVEN5vUBD1</a>&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1907910013743722855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 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 Friday:



<ul>
<li>March&#8217;s U.S. employment report, unemployment rate, and hourly wages data will be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will speak at 11:25 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Fed Governor Michael Barr will speak at 12:00 p.m. and Fed Governor Christopher Waller will speak at 12:45 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMS#NYSE">AMS</a>) was up 0.34% in premarket on Friday ahead of its earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 1 cent per share on revenue of $7.70 million.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Neuroone Medical Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMTC#NASDAQ">NMTC</a>) slumped 36.05% after the company disclosed a common stock public offering.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Simulations Plus Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLP#NASDAQ">SLP</a>) was up 2.50% after posting stronger-than-expected results for its second quarter and issuing an upbeat FY25 earnings forecast.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Sangamo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGMO#NASDAQ">SGMO</a>) surged 32.41% after announcing a new agreement with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly And Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), granting the company a worldwide exclusive license to leverage the company&#8217;s novel proprietary neurotropic adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, STAC-BBB.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>GameStop Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) jumped 3.98% after its CEO, Ryan Cohen, acquired 500,000 shares of the company.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>BioNexus Gene Lab Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BGLC#NASDAQ">BGLC</a>) dropped 26.96% after the company said that it will enact a 1-for-10 reverse stock split effective Monday to meet Nasdaq&#8217;s bid price requirements.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Mullen Automotive Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MULN#NASDAQ">MULN</a>) zoomed 83.64% after it stated that its U.S.-assembled Mullen and Bollinger commercial EV inventory is tariff-exempt.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>CXApp Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXAI#NASDAQ">CXAI</a>) gained 40.06% after the company reported business performance results for 2024 and announced a net revenue retention rate of 101%.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 3.57% to hover around $64.56 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar declined 0.97% to hover around $3,083.92 per ounce. Its fresh record high stood at $3,168.04 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was higher by 0.48% at the 102.564 level.



Asian markets closed on a lower note on Friday. India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's ASX 200, China&#8217;s CSI 300, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and South Korea's Kospi index fell. European markets were also lower in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44642317/sp-500-plummets-108-nasdaq-100-corrects-141-since-trumps-inauguration-heres-how-it-compares-to-obama-and-biden-eras">S&amp;P 500 Plummets 10.8%, Nasdaq 100 Corrects 14.1% Since Trump&#8217;s Inauguration: Here&#8217;s How It Compares To Obama And Biden Eras</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Earnings

Equities

Government

Market Summary

Futures

Commodities

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Analyst Ratings

ETFs

AAPL

AMZN

BGLC

CXAI

MULN

NMTC

NVDA

SGMO

Stocks Set To Continue Crashing After Worst Selloff Since 2020: Tariff Announcement Was '100% Smoot Hawley Disguised As Thoughtful Policy,' Says Expert

Ross Gerber, the president and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth &amp; Investment Management and chess champion, Gary Kasparov, have publicly criticized Bill Ackman for his defense of President Donald Trump&#8216;s trade war strategies.



What Happened: On Thursday, Gerber responded to a post on X by Ackman, in which the latter defended Trump&#8217;s trade war tactics. Gerber&#8217;s tweet read, &#8220;Bill please. Enough excuses. You're a smart man. This is garbage policy.&#8221; This was in direct response to Ackman&#8217;s suggestion that appearing &#8220;crazy&#8221; in negotiations could be a strategic move.



<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">Bill please. Enough excuses. You're a smart man. This is garbage policy.&mdash; Ross Gerber (@GerberKawasaki) <a href="https://twitter.com/GerberKawasaki/status/1907783165885952398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At the same time, legendary chess champion and a prominent critic of authoritarianism, Gary Kasparov, responded to Ackman and said, &#8220;That only works if you&#8217;re not actually crazy, I&#8217;m afraid,&#8221; indirectly referencing Trump&#8217;s leadership style.</figcaption></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="598" height="224" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04060403/image-44.png" alt="" class="wp-image-857265" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04060403/image-44.png 598w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/04060403/image-44-300x112.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px" /></figure>



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44640220/peter-schiff-says-nike-wont-build-factories-in-us-they-will-sell-to-countries-like-china-a-much-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Schiff Says Nike &#8216;Won&#8217;t Build Factories&#8217; In US, They Will Sell To Countries Like China: A Much Better Strategy Amid Trump Tariffs</a>



The post came amid Trump&#8217;s&nbsp;announcement of new tariffs on&nbsp;nearly all U.S. trading partners, a move that has been widely criticized.



Why It Matters: Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, in another post, advised <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44640503/bill-ackman-just-pick-up-the-phonesays-trump-will-reward-early-dealmakers-punish-tariff-retaliation">foreign leaders</a> to reach out to President Trump, describing him as a dealmaker who views the world as a series of transactions. His comments were made following the global markets losing $2 trillion in value due to Trump&#8217;s reciprocal tariffs. 



Gerber and Kasparov&#8217;s criticism of Ackman&#8217;s defense of Trump&#8217;s trade tactics underlines the ongoing debate about the effectiveness and impact of these policies on global trade and the economy. Gerber also commented on Senior Correspondent of Fox Business, Charles Gasparino&#8217;s post stating that the goal of the new tariff policy is to negotiate reciprocal agreements to reduce tariffs with trading partners. Gerber stated, &#8220;This is a bad way to do business.&#8221;



Meanwhile, Kasparov, in the past, has openly criticized Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin&#8216;s style of leadership. He has been consistently supporting Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war.



<ul>
<li>Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44639682/trump-gets-sued-over-china-tariffs-congress-did-not-grant-presidents-blank-check-to-write-domestic-policy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Gets Sued Over China Tariffs: Congress Did Not Grant Presidents &#8216;Blank Check To Write Domestic Policy&#8217;</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.

Ross Gerber And Gary Kasparov Slam Bill Ackman's Defense Of Trump's Trade War Tactics: 'This Is Garbage Policy'

AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>) shares were trading lower in premarket hours on Friday after the company confirmed it had submitted a preliminary expression of interest to the U.S. President regarding a potential acquisition of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37688964/tiktok-ban-could-take-out-billions-of-dollars-out-of-creators-pockets-and-put-over-300k-american-job" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok&#8217;s operations outside of China</a>.



&#8220;This indication of interest is preliminary and there can be no assurance that a transaction involving the Company will proceed,&#8221; AppLovin said in an exchange <a target="_blank" href="https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0001751008/91d42e86-44aa-4c1a-a9a9-40366c6f1f1b.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">filing</a>.



The mobile technology firm joins a growing list of companies looking to secure TikTok&#8217;s international business as the platform faces a fast-approaching deadline to find a new owner.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44599624/tiktok-clock-ticks-louder-as-deadline-approaches-trump-to-consider-final-proposal-as-private-equity-firms-bid-for-platform" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok Clock Ticks Louder As Deadline Approaches, Trump To Consider Final Proposal As Private Equity Firms Bid For Platform</a>



AppLovin clarified that its interest is still in the early stages and that there is no certainty a deal will materialize, Reuters reports.



Reuters adds that Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) has also reportedly shown interest in the short-form video platform.



Meanwhile, a separate group led by OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely is also said to be exploring a bid, underscoring the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44620779/onlyfans-founders-startup-and-hbar-foundation-enter-the-race-to-acquire-tiktok-us-to-maintain-american-ownership-and-governance" rel="noreferrer noopener">fierce competition to take over TikTok&#8217;s global business.</a>



AppLovin&#8217;s announcement comes during a turbulent time for the company. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>, APP stock has lost over 19% in the past year.



It recently came under fire from short-seller Muddy Waters, which issued <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44541294/applovin-shares-were-up-today-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">a report criticizing its e-commerce practices.</a>



The report claims that more than half of AppLovin&#8217;s customer conversions come from retargeting users, suggesting that only a small portion of its sales—between 25% and 35%—are actually incremental.



Muddy Waters also accused the company of gathering user data from major platforms such as Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and TikTok to construct artificial user profiles. According to the report, this practice may violate platform policies. It further alleges that AppLovin uses persistent identity graphs to covertly retarget high-value users, making it difficult for platforms to detect or prevent the activity.



As the race to acquire TikTok intensifies, AppLovin faces a dual challenge: navigating regulatory hurdles while defending its own reputation against mounting criticism.



Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;AdvisorShares Focused Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CWS#NYSE">CWS</a>) and&nbsp;Gabelli ETFs Trust Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GABF#NYSE">GABF</a>).



Price Action: APP shares are trading lower by 6.31% to $245.46 at last check Friday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44643409/ross-gerber-and-gary-kasparov-slam-bill-ackmans-defense-of-trumps-trade-war-tactics-this-is-garbage-policy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ross Gerber And Gary Kasparov Slam Bill Ackman&#8217;s Defense Of Trump&#8217;s Trade War Tactics: &#8216;This Is Garbage Policy&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock

Short Sellers

Movers

GABF

GOOGL

AppLovin Wants TikTok But Can It Beat Amazon And OnlyFans To The Punch?

On Thursday, April 3, U.S. markets experienced their steepest one-day losses in years, driven by President Trump&#8217;s tariff on U.S. imports, which sparked concerns of a global trade war and potential recession.



Investors fled to safer assets as countries like China and the EU threatened retaliation. Amid the market chaos, traders now expect multiple Federal Reserve rate cuts, with June seen as the likely starting point.



In economic data, U.S. initial jobless claims dropped by 6,000 to 219,000 for the week ending March 29, beating estimates of 225,000. The trade deficit narrowed to $122.7 billion in February, lower than the previous month&#8217;s $130.7 billion and the forecasted $123.5 billion. The ISM services PMI fell to 50.8 in March, down from 53.5 in February and below the expected 53.



Most S&amp;P 500 sectors closed lower on Thursday, led by losses in consumer discretionary, energy, and tech stocks, while consumer staples bucked the trend and finished higher.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 3.98% to 40,545.93, the S&amp;P 500 declined 4.84% to 5,396.52, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 5.97% to close at 16,550.61.



Asia Markets Today



<ul>
<li>On Friday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 closed the session lower by 2.80% at 33,762.00, led by losses in the Paper and pulp, Transport, and Communication sectors.</li>



<li>Japanese stocks plunged to their lowest since August as concerns over U.S. tariffs and a potential global recession triggered a selloff, particularly in banking stocks.</li>



<li>Australia&#8217;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 was down 2.44% and closed at 7,667.80,</li>



<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 was down 1.48% to 22,905.15, and Nifty 500 declined 2.07% to 22,905.15.</li>



<li>China Market is closed for the Ching Ming Festival holiday.</li>
</ul>



Eurozone at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 was down 2.36%.</li>



<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX declined 2.30%.</li>



<li>France&#8217;s CAC 40 fell 1.96%.</li>



<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 index traded lower by 1.83%.</li>
</ul>



Commodities at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 3.72% at $64.50/bbl, and Brent was down 3.42% at $67.79/bbl. Oil prices fell toward their lowest since 2021, hit by Trump&#8217;s tariffs and OPEC+ output increases.</li>



<li>Natural Gas slid 1.28% to $4.085.</li>



<li>Gold was trading lower by 0.26% at $3,113.20, Silver was down 1.45% to $31.515, and Copper fell 2.30% to $4.7178.</li>



<li>Gold prices slightly dipped on Friday but were set for their fifth consecutive weekly gain, driven by strong safe-haven demand amid Trump&#8217;s new trade tariffs. Despite profit-taking, gold remains close to record highs, with market focus on the U.S. nonfarm payrolls report.</li>
</ul>



U.S. Futures at 05:45 AM ET



Dow futures were down 0.93%, S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.70%, and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 0.48%.



Forex at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The U.S. dollar index rose 0.55% to 102.52, the USD/JPY rose 0.23% to 146.40, and the USD/AUD gained 1.97% to 1.6112.</li>



<li>The U.S. dollar rose on Friday, recovering slightly ahead of the jobs report after a steep drop caused by President Trump&#8217;s tariffs.</li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

Asia

Emerging Markets

Eurozone

Forex

ADIV

AGOV

ASHR

BBEU

BOIL

CQQQ

EEMA

FLAX

IEMG

IEUR

KDIV

SPEM

USDU

Global Selloff Deepens, Oil Prices Tumble Amid Trump's Tariff Fallout - Global Markets Today While US Slept

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on European companies to halt their planned investments in the United States. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced&nbsp;global tariffs on American imports.



What Happened: Macron made this appeal&nbsp;during a meeting with French&nbsp;industry representatives. He advised that any forthcoming or recently announced investments should be paused until there is clarity with the United States, reported Reuters.



Macron did not dismiss any reaction to Trump&#8217;s tariffs and proposed employing&nbsp;the anti-coercion mechanism, an EU&nbsp;tool designed to protect the bloc&#8217;s trade. He also proposed countermeasures focusing on the U.S. economy&#8217;s digital services and financial systems.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44640359/bitcoin-ethereum-steady-dogecoin-falls-as-trump-trade-moves-crash-stocks-why-arthur-hayes-believes-tariffs-will-be-good-for-btc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum Steady, Dogecoin Falls As Trump Trade Moves Crash Stocks: Why Arthur Hayes Believes Tariffs Will Be Good For BTC &#8211; Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) Common units of fractional undiv</a>



The French President asserted that the reaction to Trump&#8217;s &#8216;Liberation Day&#8217; tariffs would be &#8220;more powerful&#8221; than their previous retaliation to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs. Macron characterized the tariffs as &#8220;brutal and unfounded&#8221;, a jolt to international trade, and stressed that Europe must respond &#8220;industry by industry&#8221;.



Why It Matters: This development comes on the heels of a&nbsp;significant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44188912/trump-unveils-20-billion-investment-in-us-shipping-infrastructure-by-french-shipping-giant-cma-cgm">$20 billion investment</a>&nbsp;in U.S. shipping logistics and terminals by French shipping giant CMA CGM, announced by Trump earlier in March. 



On March 27, top French automation manufacturer Schneider Electric announced its plans to invest $700 million in the U.S. for facility upgrades, expansions, and new openings across eight locations in Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Missouri.



Moreover, the European Union had previously decided to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44431414/eu-hits-pause-on-the-retaliatory-tariffs-on-us-goods-until-mid-april-does-not-diminish-the-impact-of-our-response">delay the imposition </a>of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods until mid-April, a move seen as a strategic attempt to de-escalate the trade dispute. Macron&#8217;s stance indicates a shift in the EU&#8217;s approach to the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S.



<ul>
<li>Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44630762/mark-cuban-says-black-women-entrepreneurs-should-stop-looking-for-funding-heres-the-surprising-reason-why" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Says Black Women Entrepreneurs Should &#8216;Stop Looking For Funding&#8217;—Here&#8217;s The Surprising Reason Why</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.

French President Macron Suggests Suspension Of EU Investments In US Amid Tariff Turmoil, Vows 'More Powerful' Response

President Donald Trump&#8216;s 25% tariffs on auto imports have sent shockwaves through the integrated North American automotive supply chain, prompting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44630499/trump-auto-tariffs-could-up-car-prices-by-15k-analyst-calls-it-pure-chaos">divergent responses from major manufacturers</a> as United Auto Workers leadership criticizes job cuts.



What Happened: Stellantis NV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>) announced Thursday it will temporarily lay off 900 workers at five U.S. facilities and pause production at assembly plants in Mexico and Canada. The affected U.S. sites include Warren Stamping, Sterling Stamping, Indiana Transmission Plant, Kokomo Transmission Plant, and Kokomo Casting Plant.



&#8220;We&#8217;re continuing to assess the medium- and long-term effects of these tariffs on our operations, but also have decided to take some immediate actions,&#8221; Antonio Filosa, Stellantis&#8217; chief operating officer for the Americas, wrote in a letter to employees.



In contrast, General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) plans to increase light-duty truck production at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, assembly plant, according to a company webcast viewed by Reuters. The expansion will add 225-250 jobs at the facility, which manufactures Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.



UAW President Shawn Fain criticized Stellantis&#8217; decision, calling the layoffs &#8220;completely unnecessary&#8221; and arguing the company has &#8220;the money, the capacity, the product, and the workforce to employ thousands more UAW members.&#8221;



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44642148/cliff-asness-slams-tariff-logic-idiots-bray-like-theyve-scored-a-pointwarns-recession-driven-deflation-isnt-a-feature">Cliff Asness Slams Tariff Logic: &#8216;Idiots Bray Like They&#8217;ve Scored A Point:&#8217; Warns Recession-Driven Deflation Isn&#8217;t A Feature</a>



Why It Matters: Trump&#8217;s tariffs, which also include a 10% baseline on all imports, have sent automaker stocks tumbling. Stellantis shares fell 9.41% in New York trading on Thursday, while GM lost 4.34%.



Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) responded to the tariffs by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44641009/ford-launches-from-america-for-america-discount-program-as-tariffs-threaten-vehicle-price-surge">extending employee pricing to all customers</a> through Jun. 2, a promotion the company described as helping Americans navigate &#8220;uncertain times.&#8221;



Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called the situation a &#8220;tariff torpedo&#8221; and &#8220;pure chaos&#8221; for the industry, estimating potential price increases of $5,000-$10,000 per vehicle, with luxury models <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/04/44630499/trump-auto-tariffs-could-up-car-prices-by-15k-analyst-calls-it-pure-chaos">seeing hikes up to $15,000</a>.



White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended the tariffs <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/karoline-leavitt-trump-tariffs-deportations/">on</a> NewsNation, saying, &#8220;They can expect their wages to go up&#8230; There&#8217;s not going to be any pain for American-owned companies and American workers because their jobs are going to come back home.&#8221;



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44632423/kevin-o-leary-says-by-33-you-should-have-100000-saved-somewhere-thats-the-age-when-its-really-time-to-start-getting-focused" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kevin O' Leary Says By 33, You Should Have $100,000 Saved ‘Somewhere' — ‘That's the Age When it's Really Time to Start Getting Focused</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.

Tech

STLA

Trump's 25% Auto Tariffs Spark Stellantis Layoffs, GM Expansion: UAW's Shawn Fain Calls Job Cuts 'Completely Unnecessary'

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed a sharp decline in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday.



U.S. stocks settled lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite dipping around 6% during the session following the announcement of new trade tariffs by President Donald Trump.



Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) shares dipped around 9.3%, recording their worst day since March 2020. Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 7.8%, while Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 9% on Thursday.



Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (NYS E: LW) shares, however, gained 10% after the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and issued FY25 sales guidance above estimates.



On the economic data front, U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to 219,000 in the week ending March 29, compared to market estimates of 225,000. The U.S. trade deficit shrank to $122.7 billion in February compared to $130.7 billion in the previous month and versus market estimates of a $123.5 billion gap. The ISM services PMI dipped to 50.8 in March versus a reading of 53.5 in February, and down from market estimates of 53.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a negative note, with consumer discretionary, energy, and information technology stocks recording the biggest losses on Thursday. However, consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session higher.



The Dow Jones closed lower by around 1,679 points to 40,545.93 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 dipped 4.84% to 5,396.52, while the Nasdaq Composite tumbled 5.97% to 16,550.61 during Thursday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMS#NYSE">AMS</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 7.7, the index remained in the &#8220;Extreme Fear&#8221; zone on Thursday, versus a prior reading of 18.6.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44626468/top-3-risk-off-stocks-that-are-ticking-portfolio-bombs">Top 3 Risk Off Stocks That Are Ticking Portfolio Bombs</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

Trading Ideas

Nasdaq Dips 6% Following Trump's Tariffs As Nvidia, Apple Decline: Investor Sentiment Plunges, Greed Index Remains In 'Extreme Fear' Zone

Leading cryptocurrencies held steady Thursday, even as President Donald Trump's tariff moves battered stock markets.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>+0.02%</td><td>$83,269.84</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-0.46%</td><td>$1,816.44</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-1.73%</td><td>$0.1629</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What Happened: Bitcoin dipped below $82,000 in the early trading hours but recovered to $83,000 by evening. Ethereum followed a similar U-shaped trajectory, falling to a low of $1,750 before regaining $1,800 later in the day.



Bitcoin continued to witness capital rotation away from altcoins, with its market dominance rising to 62%. In fact, CoinMarketCap's Altsoin Season Index flashed a "Bitsoin Season" as of this writing.



Nearly $247 million was liquidated from the market in the last 24 hours, with more than $170 million in upside bets wiped out.



Bitcoin's Open Interest mirrored spot price moves, marginally gaining 0.63% in the last 24 hours.



The Long/Short Ratio fell sharply, suggesting an increase in traders betting against Bitcoin's price increase.



The market sentiment improved from "Extreme Fear" to "Fear," according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 8:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Cosmos (ATOM)</td><td>+8.01%</td><td>$4.64</td></tr><tr><td>Curve DAO Token (CRV)</td><td>+5.18%</td><td>$0.5256</td></tr><tr><td>Pendle (PENDLE)</td><td>+3.86%</td><td>$3.17</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.67 trillion, following a decrease of 0.12% in the last 24 hours.



Stocks suffered their worst rout in more than five years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crashed 1,679.39 points, or 3.98%, to close at 40,545.93. The S&amp;P 500 tumbled 4.84%, ending at 5,396.52. The two blue-chip averages recorded their worst single-day declines since June 2020. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite plummeted 5.97% to end at 16,550.61.



Thursday's sell-off came in reaction to Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44618089/trumps-tariffs-surprise-triggers-carnage-magnificent-7-set-to-wipe-out-nearly-700-billion-">worse-than-expected reciprocal tariff rollout</a>, heightening fears of a full-blown trade war and economic slowdown. Spot gold eased after hitting an all-time high of $3,167.57 earlier in the day.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Popular blockchain analytics firm Santiment said Bitcoin was "relatively insulated" from tariff-fueled volatility due to its "intangible and borderless nature."



"Unlike traditional stocks, cryptocurrencies aren&#8217;t typically impacted by trade disruptions or international supply chain concerns triggered by political decisions," Santiment stated, while acknowledging some volatility owing to linkages to global economic health.



<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">&#x1f4c9; Following Trump&#39;s tariff announcements yesterday, the S&amp;P 500 is currently down -4.02% in Thursday trading. In the 2020&#39;s, there have only been 5 worse performing days: &#x1f5d3;&#xFE0F; March 16, 2020: -11.98%​ &#x1f5d3;&#xFE0F; March 12, 2020: -9.51%​ &#x1f5d3;&#xFE0F; March 9, 2020: -7.60%​ &#x1f5d3;&#xFE0F; June 11, 2020: -5.89%… <a href="https://t.co/TpTbYMDFZF">pic.twitter.com/TpTbYMDFZF</a>&mdash; Santiment (@santimentfeed) <a href="https://twitter.com/santimentfeed/status/1907855488014004707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Arthur Hayes, co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, predicted that the tariffs would be good for Bitcoin.



"Global imbalances will be corrected, and the pain papered over with printed money, which is good for BTC," Hayes said, expecting higher fiat liquidity growth in the future.



<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">Some of y&#39;all are running scurred, but I LOVE TARIFFS, some chart porn to understand why. Global imbalances will be corrected, and the pain papered over with printed money, which is good for <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a>. <a href="https://t.co/jc5eZ2VIEa">pic.twitter.com/jc5eZ2VIEa</a>&mdash; Arthur Hayes (@CryptoHayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoHayes/status/1907961898777391323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Photo by SvetlanaParnikova on Shutterstock



Read Next:    



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/04/44633519/vaneck-moves-closer-to-us-binance-coin-etf-but-will-the-sec-play-ball">VanEck Moves Closer To US Binance Coin ETF — But Will The SEC Play Ball?</a></li>
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Cryptocurrency

$BTC

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum Steady, Dogecoin Falls As Trump Trade Moves Crash Stocks: Why Arthur Hayes Believes Tariffs Will Be Good For BTC

As global <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">markets shed $2 trillion in value</a> following President Donald Trump&#8216;s sweeping reciprocal tariffs, billionaire investor Bill Ackman offered pointed advice to foreign leaders.



What Happened: &#8220;My advice to foreign leaders is that if you have not already reached out to President Donald Trump, you need to do so immediately,&#8221; the Pershing Square Capital Management CEO wrote Thursday on X. &#8220;Trump is, at his core, a dealmaker who sees the world as a series of transactions.&#8221;



Ackman&#8217;s comments come as <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">financial markets experience their worst sell-off</a>, which echoes the COVID-19 pandemic-era routs. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) plunged 9.25%, while NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) tumbled 7.81% and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) dropped 8.98%.



The investor emphasized Trump&#8217;s negotiation approach: &#8220;Based on his track record to date with foreign governments, law firms, and universities, he is a tough, but fair negotiator. He loves to make deals and he loves to get things done promptly.&#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">My advice to foreign leaders is that if you have not already reached out to President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, you need to do so immediately. Trump is, at his core, a dealmaker who sees the world as a series of transactions. Based on his track record to date with foreign…&mdash; Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/1907821384048275964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 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/government/regulations/25/04/44635144/fridays-jobs-report-could-be-make-or-break-moment-after-trumps-tariff-shock">Friday&#8217;s Jobs Report Could Be Make-Or-Break Moment After Trump&#8217;s Tariff Shock</a>



Why It Matters: Ackman&#8217;s perspective aligns with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who said that <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44630931/commerce-secretary-lutnick-says-us-markets-will-perform-extremely-well-long-term-despite-trump-tariff-selloff">the market reaction would be short-lived</a>. &#8220;I expect most countries to start to really examine their trade policy towards the United States of America,&#8221; Lutnick said, suggesting America&#8217;s trading partners would ultimately adjust their policies.



Meanwhile, billionaire Ray Dalio warned of &#8220;abrupt, unconventional changes&#8221; in markets as tariffs generate revenue for the imposing country while decreasing global efficiency and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/market-summary/25/04/44623855/ray-dalio-warns-of-abrupt-unconventional-changes-in-markets-heres-how-the-tariff-machine-affects-currency-monetary-and-fiscal-policies">creating stagflationary pressures</a>.



China has <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/44620889/trumps-liberation-day-tariffs-roil-markets-as-china-slams-typical-unilateral-bullying-asian-markets-plunge">already threatened countermeasures</a>, calling Trump&#8217;s actions &#8220;typical unilateral bullying.&#8221; 



Ackman concluded his message with stark advice: &#8220;Countries that respond with additional tariffs on our goods will be severely punished. The carrot and the stick writ large, Big Boy style&#8230; Just pick up the phone. Call the President, and make a deal.&#8221;



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44632423/kevin-o-leary-says-by-33-you-should-have-100000-saved-somewhere-thats-the-age-when-its-really-time-to-start-getting-focused">Kevin O&#8217; Leary Says By 33, You Should Have $100,000 Saved &#8216;Somewhere&#8217; — &#8216;That&#8217;s the Age When it&#8217;s Really Time to Start Getting Focused</a>&#8216;</li>
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Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Bill Ackman: 'Just Pick Up The Phone'—Says Trump Will Reward Early Dealmakers, Punish Foreign Tariff Retaliation

Economist Peter Schiff warned on Thursday that Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) won&#8217;t shift production to the United States despite newly imposed tariffs, predicting higher prices and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44629275/nike-stock-is-tumbling-thursday-heres-why">reduced domestic sales for the footwear giant</a>.



What Happened: &#8220;Nike won&#8217;t build factories in the U.S. to make sneakers. That would add more cost than the 40% tariffs,&#8221; Schiff wrote on X. &#8220;The result will be fewer sneakers sold in the U.S. at much higher prices.&#8221;



When questioned whether Nike might absorb tariff costs while building domestic factories, Schiff dismissed the idea, suggesting the company would instead redirect products: &#8220;They will eventually sell more sneakers to consumers in other countries instead, as they buy what Americans can no longer afford.&#8221;



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<li>Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://benzingapartners.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=562&amp;aff_id=1&amp;aff_sub=dtm">invest pre-IPO from $0.55 per share now</a>.</li>



<li>With shares starting at $1.52, <a href="https://benzingapartners.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=564&amp;aff_id=1&amp;aff_sub=dtm">this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare</a>.</li>
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The comments come as Nike shares plummeted 14.44% on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs affecting the company&#8217;s supply chain. Vietnam, where <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44629275/nike-stock-is-tumbling-thursday-heres-why">Nike produces nearly 50% of its footwear</a>, faces a 46% tariff increase.



<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">Nike won&#39;t build factories in the U.S. to make sneakers. That would add more cost than the 40% tariffs. Plus, they need to stay competitive selling to customers in other countries that don&#39;t impose tariffs. The result will be fewer sneakers sold in the U.S. at much higher prices.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1907812445260800264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<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">Why, they will still sell sneakers at higher prices in the U.S. The sneakers they don&#39;t sell in the U.S. they will sell to consumers in other countries instead, like China. That&#39;s a much better strategy.&mdash; Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSchiff/status/1907815526027448587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/03220426/Screenshot-2025-04-04-at-7.33.26%E2%80%AFAM-1024x657.png" alt="" class="wp-image-856620" style="width:912px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Nike&#8217;s revenue worldwide in million U.S. dollars from the fiscal years of 2017 to 2024, by region— Source: Statista</figcaption></figure>



Why It Matters: Goldman Sachs identified Nike among <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44634737/retailers-brace-for-higher-costs-as-us-tariff-rates-soar-says-goldman-sachs">several retailers with high exposure to the new tariffs</a>, which include a 34% rate for China and 32% for Indonesia, both key manufacturing locations for the company.



The broader market experienced significant turmoil following the tariff announcement, with Wall Street losing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44631916/wall-street-wipes-out-2-trillion-apple-eyes-worst-day-since-covid-19-pandemic-oil-plummets-whats-driving-markets-thursday">approximately $2 trillion in market value</a>. 



Consumer discretionary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44634737/retailers-brace-for-higher-costs-as-us-tariff-rates-soar-says-goldman-sachs">stocks were particularly hard hit</a>, with Nike&#8217;s competitors also suffering substantial losses—Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>) fell 9.28%, and Adidas shares declined on its 39% Vietnamese manufacturing exposure.



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Analysts warn that brands will need to adjust pricing, negotiate with vendors, and optimize costs to protect margins. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called the tariffs &#8220;worse than the worst case scenario,&#8221; with particular concern about the China and Taiwan tariffs&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44629275/nike-stock-is-tumbling-thursday-heres-why">impact on supply chains and demand</a>.



Nike lags behind Lululemon, Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COLM#NASDAQ">COLM</a>), Under Armour (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAA#NYSE">UAA</a>), Skechers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>), VF Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFC#NYSE">VFC</a>), and On Holding AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONON#NYSE">ONON</a>), struggling with negative growth and momentum. Benzinga Edge Stock Ranking also indicates a bearish price trend for Nike across short- and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Sign up to learn more</a>.



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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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Peter Schiff Says Nike 'Won't Build Factories' In US, They Will Sell To Countries Like China: A Much Better Strategy Amid Trump Tariffs

As newly announced trade tariffs rattle markets, the U.S. labor market stands as the last major pillar of strength in an economy increasingly defined by President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/tariffs">Donald Trump&#8216;s policy decisions.</a>



The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the March Employment Situation at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, offering a critical read on whether hiring momentum is holding up—or if mounting government layoffs are beginning to weigh on the broader labor market.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">March Nonfarm Payrolls: What Are Economists Expecting?</h3>



Consensus forecasts tracked by TradingEconomics anticipate a slowdown in hiring, with total nonfarm payrolls expected to rise by 135,000, down from the 151,000 jobs added in February.



Job gains over the past 6 and 12 months have averaged 175,000 per month, suggesting a cooling trend is underway. The latest ADP employment report—which covers a subset of more than 25 million private-sector employees—showed a gain of 155,000 jobs in March.



Government hiring remains a key risk factor. Public-sector payrolls rose by just 11,000 in February, and economists warn the figure could turn negative for the first time since April 2024. Government hiring has averaged 33,000 jobs per month over the past year, and—with the exception of April 2024—has not recorded a monthly decline since December 2022.



The unemployment rate is expected to remain steady at 4.1%.



Wage growth is seen as relatively flat. Average hourly earnings are projected to increase 0.3% month-over-month, matching February's pace, and rise 3.9% year-over-year—a slight deceleration from the previous month's 4%.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Are The Experts Saying?</h3>



"Although they may feel somewhat irrelevant in the context of the tariff announcements made on ‘Liberation Day,' March nonfarm payrolls are incredibly important," said Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist at Barclays Private Bank. 



"With recession fears mounting, a weaker-than-expected print could be a nail in the coffin for the U.S. economy."



Lafargue cautioned that even a strong report might be dismissed as outdated, given the potential impact of fresh tariffs. "It feels like a lose-lose situation for markets. Yet, that may be the silver lining—expectations are so low that a decent print could still trigger a short-term rebound."



ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson noted that despite policy uncertainty and weak consumer sentiment, "the March topline number was a good one for the economy and employers of all sizes—even if not all sectors."



Comerica forecasts a modest 110,000 increase in payrolls, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.2%. Bank of America is more bullish, predicting a 185,000 gain, viewing a hiring rebound in the leisure and hospitality sector after cold weather disruptions earlier this year.



Bank of America doesn't see government job cuts as a drag on the overall figure, noting that jobless claims have remained stable in recent weeks. "



Given the muted claims data in the survey week, we do not expect DOGE-driven job cuts to be a sizable drag," said economist Shruti Mishra.



Goldman Sachs' Ronnie Walker estimates a 150,000 gain in nonfarm payrolls, slightly above consensus but below the recent three-month average of 200,000. Walker highlights the end of worker strikes and a rebound in weather-sensitive industries as tailwinds, while anticipating a 25,000 drag from federal job cuts and slower state and local hiring.



Yet, a cold dose of reality came from the ISM Services PMI for March, which revealed a sharp slowdown in hiring activity, with the employment subindex dropping <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44629640/us-services-sector-slows-sharply-as-hiring-drops-tariff-pressures-mount">to a 9-month low.</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pessimism Reigns Supreme Ahead Of Jobs Data</h3>



Markets are in open revolt over President Trump's decision to impose country-specific trade tariffs—measures that exceeded even the bleakest forecasts from economists.



The S&amp;P 500 Index – tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) – fell by 4.2% on Thursday, reaching a 7-month low.



Against this backdrop, a solid March payrolls report—showing firms are still hiring and retaining workers—could serve as an anchor, giving traders a reason to cling to hopes that the U.S. labor market remains resilient amid growing tariff headwinds.



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Friday's Jobs Report Could Be Make-Or-Break Moment After Trump's Tariff Shock

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick believes the Trump Administration&#8217;s reciprocal tariffs will cause some short-term pain, but ultimately result in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/04/44627817/retaliation-odds-spike-after-trumps-heavy-tariffs-sending-country-etfs-tumbling">medium- and longer-term gain</a>.



What To Know: President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on numerous countries across the world Wednesday in what he called &#8220;Liberation Day&#8221; for America.



The tariff announcement sent markets into a tailspin with the SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) last down about 3.85%, per <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>. Economists fear the tariffs will spark a U.S. recession and global trade war.



Thursday on CNBC&#8217;s &#8220;Squawk Box,&#8221; Lutnick suggested that the stock market reaction will be short-lived as the tariff adjustments will spur other countries to reconsider trade policies.



&#8220;I think the long term or even the medium term, you&#8217;ve got to expect the United States of America markets are going to do extremely, extremely well,&#8221; the Commerce Secretary said.



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44627820/trumps-reciprocal-tariffs-on-india-exempt-pharma-easing-mark-cubans-price-hike-concerns">Trump&#8217;s Reciprocal Tariffs On India Exempt Pharma, Easing Mark Cuban&#8217;s Price Hike Concerns</a>



Lutnick told CNBC he expects the tariffs to result in a &#8220;reordering of fair trade.&#8221; The move from the Trump Administration is not just in response to tariffs, it&#8217;s also in response to &#8220;non-tariff trade barriers.&#8221;



&#8220;I expect most countries to start to really examine their trade policy towards the United States of America and stop picking on us,&#8221; he said.



The Trump administration believes it has leverage to push other countries to reconsider trade policies with the U.S. Global investors fear potential retaliatory tactics that could significantly impact global economies.



&#8220;We&#8217;re talking to all the major countries of the world and we&#8217;ve been talking to them for more than a month,&#8221; Lutnick said.



&#8220;Will they treat us fairly? Can they treat us fairly? And the answer is, over time, that is going to be yes.&#8221;



The Commerce Secretary said America is going to become the producer of a lot more goods it consumes, interest rates will be much lower and the American economy will be much stronger over the longer term.



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Photo: <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/g/JoshuaSukoff">Joshua Sukoff</a>/Shutterstock.

Commerce Secretary Lutnick Says US Markets Will Perform 'Extremely Well' Long Term Despite Trump Tariff Selloff

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