Markets opened lower Friday amid rising trade tensions, despite President Donald Trump praising his tariff strategy. The president called the policy “very exciting for America, and the world” in a Truth Social post, claiming it’s “doing really well” and “moving along quickly.”
However, investors appeared less enthusiastic. The S&P 500 slipped 6 points (-0.1%) to 5,262, the Dow Jones fell 64 points (-0.16%) to 39,529, and the Nasdaq dropped 9 points (-0.06%) to 16,377 shortly after the opening bell.
The downturn follows Beijing’s announcement of a retaliatory 125% tariff, which also weighed heavily on the U.S. dollar, pushing it to a three-year low. The escalating trade war has added volatility to markets, with analysts watching closely for further policy moves and potential economic fallout.
