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Hey listeners, it's Saturday, March 8th. I'm Francesca Fontana for the Wall Street Journal and this is what's news in markets, our look at the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Let's get to it. Trade, trade, trade. That was the big story in the stock market as investors and portfolio managers grappled with fears about US Economic performance amid a ton of policy uncertainty. Don't worry if you miss on all the rapid fire tariff updates this week. I will run through those in a bit. On a broader level, we've been seeing US Consumer confidence slipping on fears of rising prices, which was a thread we saw in some of the retail movers this week. I'll come back to those in a minute too. Then, of course, there was Thursday's big sell off, with chip stocks in particular getting hammered as investors searched through AI chip makers results looking for the next big thing, the next Nvidia, if you will. And while the indexes managed to end Friday in the black, they each notched losses for the week. The Dow fell more than 2%, the S&P lost more than 3%, and the Nasdaq fell about 3.5%. First up, let's set our target on Target, the red bullseye, the American retail giant. This week, Target was the latest retailer to warn investors about the looming impacts of higher tariffs and consumer uncertainty. Like I said before, shoppers are worried that they'll be seeing a lot tags going up. So on Tuesday, Target said its February sales fell year over year, and the company warned that its sales could be flat this year. A similar reading from Walmart spooked investors last month when executives set lower than expected fiscal year revenue and profit targets. And it seemed like Target investors got spooked, too, because its shares fell 3% on Tuesday and the stock ended the week down more than 7%. And Target wasn't alone. Another retail stock, Best Buy, took a hit after saying tariffs might curb demand for its electronics higher prices. Best Buy shares took a dive after that, sliding about 13% on Tuesday and on the week, they lost roughly 12%. So we're seeing how the trade policy atmosphere has been weighing on stocks through Tuesday, which was when those Mexico and Canada tariffs took effect. That brings us to Wednesday, where this week's tariff play by play really ramps up. Okay, so we're going to move fast and going to focus on global auto stocks, which are especially vulnerable. All right, got it. Great. Let's go Tuesday, the tariffs are here. Wednesday, the White House says not so fast. Actually, automakers, you're getting a one month reprieve from the levies for cars that comply with the U.S. mexico, Canada Free Trade Agreement. Auto stocks cheer U.S. traded shares of Toyota Motor for one jump, 6.5%. But that's not all. Thursday morning we get Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on CNBC saying that one month reprieve might be extended beyond automakers. And later that day, President Trump suspends the tariffs on goods that fall under the USMCA until April 2nd. But like I mentioned, investors weren't sure what to make of all these sudden changes and stocks fell anyway. Whew. Okay, that was a lot of news, a lot of whipsawing in the markets and like I said, a lot of big moves for the most trade vulnerable sectors. Let's circle back to Toyota. At the end of all that, its US shares finished the week with a gain of 4.8%. So now we're at Friday and markets got a bit of a break from all the trade news. So we got to look up and see, you know, what else is going on. I'll tell you, Gap was on fire. The apparel company behind brands like Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and of course, its namesake posted better than expected sales and profit last quarter as its turnaround efforts continue to show results. And for what it's worth, given that the trade uncertainty is far from over, Gap also addressed tariffs, saying it has minimal exposure. Less than 10% of Gap's products come from China and less than 1% come from Canada and Mexico. Good to know, because with how this week went, it's hard to say what next week holds. All in all, Gap's shares surged a whopping 19% on Friday. And now you know what's news in markets this week. You can read about more stocks that moved on. The week's news in the Score. My column in the Wall Street Journal's Exchange section. Today's show was produced by Zoe Kulkin and Jess Jupiter with Deputy editor Chris Sinceley. I'm Francesca Fontana. Have a great weekend and see you next Saturday.
WSJ What’s News Podcast Summary
Episode: What’s News in Markets: Tariffs Whipsaw, Gap’s Bump, Target Prices
Release Date: March 8, 2025
Host: Francesca Fontana, The Wall Street Journal
In the March 8, 2025 episode of WSJ What’s News, host Francesca Fontana delves into the tumultuous week in the stock market, highlighting significant stock movements and the underlying factors driving these changes. The episode provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of market dynamics influenced by trade policies, consumer confidence, and sector-specific developments.
Francesca begins by setting the stage with the overarching theme of trade policy uncertainty that dominated the week. Investors and portfolio managers were deeply engaged in navigating fears surrounding the US economic performance amidst fluctuating tariff policies.
"Trade, trade, trade. That was the big story in the stock market as investors and portfolio managers grappled with fears about US Economic performance amid a ton of policy uncertainty." [00:32]
The uncertainty was further exacerbated by slipping US consumer confidence, largely driven by apprehensions over rising prices. This decline in consumer confidence was a critical factor influencing the performance of retail stocks during the week.
"On a broader level, we've been seeing US Consumer confidence slipping on fears of rising prices, which was a thread we saw in some of the retail movers this week." [00:50]
Target emerged as a focal point in the retail sector, issuing warnings about the adverse effects of higher tariffs and ongoing consumer uncertainty. The company reported a year-over-year decline in February sales and cautioned that its sales could remain flat for the year.
"Target was the latest retailer to warn investors about the looming impacts of higher tariffs and consumer uncertainty." [01:05]
The market responded swiftly to Target’s outlook, with its shares dropping 3% on Tuesday and closing the week down more than 7%.
Similarly, Best Buy faced pressure after announcing that tariffs could dampen demand for its electronics, leading to higher prices for consumers. This announcement sent Best Buy’s shares tumbling by approximately 13% on Tuesday, and the stock ended the week down around 12%.
"Another retail stock, Best Buy, took a hit after saying tariffs might curb demand for its electronics higher prices." [01:38]
The week was marked by rapid developments in tariff policies, significantly impacting global auto stocks. Following the implementation of new tariffs on Tuesday affecting Mexico and Canada, the White House intervened on Wednesday, granting automakers a one-month reprieve from these tariffs, provided their cars complied with the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
"Wednesday, the White House says not so fast. Actually, automakers, you're getting a one month reprieve from the levies for cars that comply with the U.S., Mexico, Canada Free Trade Agreement." [02:45]
This announcement was well-received by the automotive sector, with Toyota Motor's US shares jumping 6.5%. However, the situation remained fluid. On Thursday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at a potential extension of the reprieve, and later that day, President Trump officially suspended tariffs on goods under the USMCA until April 2nd.
"President Trump suspends the tariffs on goods that fall under the USMCA until April 2nd." [03:15]
Despite these favorable developments for the automotive sector, investor uncertainty persisted, leading to a broader market sell-off. Consequently, major indexes experienced declines over the week—Dow Jones Industrial Average fell over 2%, S&P 500 dropped more than 3%, and Nasdaq Composite declined approximately 3.5%.
"While the indexes managed to end Friday in the black, they each notched losses for the week. The Dow fell more than 2%, the S&P lost more than 3%, and the Nasdaq fell about 3.5%." [02:10]
Amidst the tariff reprieve, Toyota Motor's shares demonstrated resilience and optimism, closing the week with a 4.8% gain in US trading. This performance underscores the automotive sector's sensitivity to trade policy changes and the positive impact of tariff suspensions.
"At the end of all that, its US shares finished the week with a gain of 4.8%." [03:00]
Shifting focus to the apparel sector, Gap Inc. stood out with a remarkable stock surge. The company, known for brands like Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta, reported better-than-expected sales and profits in the last quarter, signaling the effectiveness of its ongoing turnaround strategies.
"Gap was on fire... posted better than expected sales and profit last quarter as its turnaround efforts continue to show results." [04:00]
Additionally, Gap highlighted its minimal exposure to the prevailing trade uncertainties, with less than 10% of its products sourced from China and under 1% from Canada and Mexico.
"Gap also addressed tariffs, saying it has minimal exposure. Less than 10% of Gap's products come from China and less than 1% come from Canada and Mexico." [04:25]
This combination of robust financial performance and limited tariff exposure propelled Gap's shares to surge by an impressive 19% on Friday.
"Gap's shares surged a whopping 19% on Friday." [04:40]
Despite a brief respite on Friday, the broader market indices reflected a challenging week dominated by trade tensions and economic uncertainties. While the markets closed positively on Friday, the cumulative effect of the week's events resulted in significant losses across major indexes.
"Friday and markets got a bit of a break from all the trade news." [03:30]
"All in all, Gap's shares surged a whopping 19% on Friday." [04:40]
Francesca Fontana wraps up the episode by underscoring the week's volatile market conditions driven by evolving trade policies and their sector-specific impacts. She highlights the contrasting performances of retail giants like Target and Best Buy against the robust gains of Gap, illustrating the nuanced responses of different companies to the same economic pressures. The episode serves as a crucial update for investors seeking to navigate the complexities of the current market landscape.
"Now you know what's news in markets this week." [05:00]
Produced by Zoe Kulkin and Jess Jupiter with Deputy Editor Chris Sinceley, the episode offers listeners a detailed and insightful analysis of the week's market movements, ensuring they stay informed and prepared for future developments.
Notable Quotes:
"Trade, trade, trade. That was the big story in the stock market as investors and portfolio managers grappled with fears about US Economic performance amid a ton of policy uncertainty." – Francesca Fontana [00:32]
"Target was the latest retailer to warn investors about the looming impacts of higher tariffs and consumer uncertainty." – Francesca Fontana [01:05]
"President Trump suspends the tariffs on goods that fall under the USMCA until April 2nd." – Francesca Fontana [03:15]
"Gap's shares surged a whopping 19% on Friday." – Francesca Fontana [04:40]
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and outcomes from the episode, providing a clear and informative overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.