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Isn't home where we all want to be? Reba here for realtor.com the Pro's number one most trusted app. Finding a home is like dating. You're searching for the one with over 500,000 new listings every month. You can find the one today, download the realtor.com app cause you're nearly home. Make it real with realtor.com Pro's number.
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One most trusted app based on August 2024 proprietary survey. Over 500,000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings.
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February 2024 through January 20Hey listeners, it's Saturday, May 31st. 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. You guys know I usually do a play by play of the week, right? I go day by day, give you the biggest stock moving news in the order that we got it. But this week I think the big question is where are we with tariffs right now? Are they done? Are they back? Were they ever really gone? So where are we with tariffs? Well, they're still in place for now, but if you can imagine a cloud hanging over them right now and that cloud's name is legal limbo. First, the U.S. court of International Trade invalidated nearly all of President Trump's tariffs. Then a federal appeals court allowed them to stay in effect. Now that's not going to be the end of this saga and it's certainly not the end of the trade war or our collective whiplash. Of course, there's other noise. Trump accusing China of violating its deal with the US etc. But that is the long and the short of it. Tariffs are still in place, companies aren't ripping up their revised guidance or ditching their plans to mitigate the cost of the tariffs. And we're all just putting one foot in front of the other. Anyway, what the indexes do? Well, all three ended the week higher and notched gains for the month. The Dow ended May with a gain of 3.9%. The S&P 500 rose about 6.2% and the Nasdaq jumped more than 9%. Alright, first up, Temu. Or is it Temu? You know, I thought I had it down after the super bowl commercial with the song, but I've forgotten. So my wonderful producers have helped me nail it down. It's Temu. Anyway, Temu, the popular E commerce seller owned by Chinese parent company PDD holdings, is under serious pressure thanks to US Tariffs. PDD holdings said this week that its profit dropped nearly 50% in the first quarter, which woof is a big slide given how strong temu's rise has been in the US temu's ultra cheap everyday items have been a hit with budget conscious American consumers. See also Chinese fast fashion E retailer Shein and these companies aren't just dealing with the new American tariffs, but also the disappearance of a duty exemption for low value or small packages from China. And they've both relied heavily on it. So when all of this came rolling out, we saw TAMU raising prices and temporarily halting all shipments from China and you can see how this might have affected their bottom line. So what does this mean for the US traded shares of PDD? Well, PDD dropped 14% on Tuesday and on the week lost One business that is managing to overcome its Chinese trade woes is Nvidia. The chip giant's business is still booming even while it's effectively shut out of China's giant AI chip market. On Wednesday, Nvidia posted another quarter of record breaking sales with quarterly revenue reaching $44.06 billion which is a 69% increase even with Washington's roadblocks limiting sales to China. Nvidia shares gained more than 3% on Thursday and the stock helped power indexes to modest gains despite all of the back and forth court rulings I told you about re Trump and tariffs. And on the week the stock notched a gain of 2.9%. Last but not least, E L F Beauty's stock got a major glow up after announcing a $1 billion deal to acquire Hailey Bieber's beauty. Hailey Bieber, the American model and wife of Justin Bieber, started rhode back in 2022 and elf said that buying Rhode will help diversify its supply chain out of China. Sorry, I know. China this, China that. It's just how it is. ELF shares ended up rocketing 24% higher on Thursday and on the week notched a gain of 34%. 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 Culkin and Anthony Banci with supervising producer Michael Kosmides. I'm Francesca Fontana. Have a great weekend and I'll see you next Saturday.
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Isn't home where we all want to be? Reba? Here for realtor.com, the Pro's number one most trusted app Finding a home is like dating. You're searching for the one with over 500,000 new listings every month. You can find the one today, download the realtor.com app cause you're nearly home. Make it real with realtor.com pros.
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Number one most trusted app based on August 2024 proprietary survey. Over 500,000 new listings every month based on average new for sale and rental listings February 2024 through January 2025.
WSJ What’s News in Markets: Temu’s Pressures, Nvidia Delivers, Beautiful E.l.f.
Released on May 31, 2025
In this episode of WSJ What’s News in Markets, host Francesca Fontana delves into the week's most significant market movements, exploring the underlying factors driving stock performances. Covering topics from international trade tensions to noteworthy corporate maneuvers, the episode offers a comprehensive analysis tailored for investors and market enthusiasts alike.
Francesca opens the discussion by addressing the current state of U.S. tariffs, which remain a pivotal concern for global trade and market stability.
"The big question is where are we with tariffs right now? Are they done? Are they back? Were they ever really gone?" [00:28]
She explains the ongoing uncertainty stemming from conflicting court decisions:
This back-and-forth has left tariffs in a state of "legal limbo," contributing to ongoing trade tensions and market volatility.
"Tariffs are still in place, companies aren't ripping up their revised guidance or ditching their plans to mitigate the cost of the tariffs." [02:15]
Francesca emphasizes that businesses are adapting to this uncertainty by cautiously advancing their strategies despite the unpredictable trade environment.
Despite the tariff uncertainties, major stock indexes showed resilience over the week:
"All three ended the week higher and notched gains for the month." [02:45]
This uptick reflects investor confidence and adaptability in navigating the complex economic landscape.
The episode highlights Temu, the e-commerce giant owned by Chinese parent company PDD Holdings, facing significant challenges due to U.S. tariff policies.
"Temu's ultra cheap everyday items have been a hit with budget conscious American consumers." [03:15]
Despite Temu's popularity, PDD Holdings reported a nearly 50% drop in profits for the first quarter. The combination of ongoing tariffs and the removal of duty exemptions for low-value imports has compelled Temu to:
The immediate market reaction saw PDD Holdings' U.S.-traded shares plummet by 14% on Tuesday, culminating in a total weekly loss of 1%.
"Temu raising prices and temporarily halting all shipments from China... has affected their bottom line." [04:10]
Francesca notes that while Temu continues to attract consumers, the financial strain from trade policies poses a significant hurdle for sustained growth.
In contrast to Temu, Nvidia stands out as a company successfully navigating the challenging trade environment.
"Nvidia's business is still booming even while it's effectively shut out of China's giant AI chip market." [04:35]
Key highlights include:
Nvidia's ability to maintain robust sales despite restrictions illustrates the company's strong positioning in the global chip market and its resilience against external pressures.
"Nvidia shares gained more than 3% on Thursday and the stock helped power indexes to modest gains." [04:50]
Francesca underscores Nvidia's strategic adaptability as a cornerstone of its continued success.
E.L.F. Beauty made headlines with its strategic acquisition of Hailey Bieber's beauty brand, Rhode, for $1 billion. This move aims to diversify E.L.F.'s supply chain away from China, mitigating risks associated with international trade tensions.
"Buying Rhode will help diversify its supply chain out of China." [05:05]
The market responded enthusiastically:
Francesca highlights this acquisition as a pivotal step for E.L.F. in strengthening its global footprint and ensuring supply chain resilience.
"ELF shares ended up rocketing 24% higher on Thursday and on the week notched a gain of 34%." [05:15]
Francesca wraps up the episode by reinforcing the dynamic nature of the current market environment, shaped by regulatory uncertainties and strategic corporate decisions.
"We're all just putting one foot in front of the other." [02:20]
She invites listeners to stay informed through her "Score" column in the Wall Street Journal's Exchange section for deeper insights into stock movements and market trends.
"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." [05:20]
Francesca concludes with acknowledgments to the production team and well-wishes for the weekend, encapsulating the episode's comprehensive analysis of the week's market highlights.
Produced by: Zoe Culkin and Anthony Banci
Supervising Producer: Michael Kosmides
Host: Francesca Fontana