By Alex Financials

📉 U.S. Markets Slide on New Tariff Shock

President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of a new 15% global tariff has roiled markets this morning — despite last week’s rally when prior tariff policies were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Traders reacted sharply:

• S&P 500 futures were down about 0.4% in early trading.

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq futures also pointed to lower openings amid heightened trade uncertainty.

• Major indexes — Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq — are fading, with the market interpreting tariff escalation as a potential drag on global economic growth and corporate earnings.

Economists and investors are now parsing the legal and economic impact of the new tariff framework — enacted under the 1974 Trade Act — which applies broadly to trade partners and could alter global supply chains.

Key takeaway: Trade policy has suddenly jumped to the forefront of market risk, shaking confidence in risk assets and sparking a risk-off move.

🧠 Tech Rotation: Investors Scale Back ‘Old Guard’

While macro headlines dominate, equity markets are also witnessing sector rotation:

• Money is moving out of large high-beta tech names as investors reassess future growth vs. valuation risks.

• This ‘AI fear trade’ isn’t just noise — it reflects real repositioning across portfolios.

Implication: Even before earnings season heats up, cyclical and defensive sectors are drawing attention at the expense of crowded tech plays.

📊 Stocks Making Moves Today

Here are some of the notable individual movers driving market action:

🔼 Top Performers

• $ARCL — Arcellx surged ~78% after Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire the biotech.

• $DPZ — Domino’s Pizza jumped amid mixed earnings but strong revenue performance.

• $NVDA — Nvidia also posted gains ahead of a major earnings release this week.

🔽 Losers/Pressure Stocks

• $NVO — Novo Nordisk was hit hard after clinical trial data disappointed relative to competitors.

• Packaging and transport names also lagged as tariff uncertainty spiked.

• Some crypto-influenced equities declined with Bitcoin weakness adding to risk-off sentiment.

Point of note: The divergence between corporate news (earnings, M&A) and macro drag (tariffs) is creating a bifurcated market where stock-specific catalysts matter as much as broad economic factors.

📅 What’s Ahead: Earnings & Key Catalysts

Today’s market isn’t just about tariffs — earnings season is about to take center stage:

Notable expected reports or implied moves:

• $DPZ — Domino’s Pizza (earnings today) could swing shares significantly

• $BMRN, $KTOS, $FANG, and others see meaningful options-implied moves around upcoming earnings.

Why this matters: With macro uncertainty high, earnings data will be a critical read on whether company fundamentals can override geopolitical noise.

🧭 Market Sentiment & Strategy

Broad sentiment today shows:

• Risk aversion rising — as tariffs hit risk assets.

• Rotation from growth to value — defensive sectors and non-tech cyclicals showing relative strength.

• Event risk high — tariff policy shifts and earnings loom as dual catalysts.

In a market where policy shocks are dominating headlines, positioning and risk management will be key for traders and investors alike.