Markets Stabilize as Investors Weigh Tariff Impact and Tech Losses

Alphabet and Tesla led the sell-off, with Wall Street reacting to cash flow anxieties that overshadowed broader market sentiment. The tech sector found a brief reprieve in Intel, whose optimistic earnings forecast provided a floor for the slide. Market participants are now balancing these corporate realities against a volatile macroeconomic backdrop.

Oil prices spiked following military threats against Iran and Houthi allies, fueling immediate inflation fears ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting. With tariffs now hitting 60 trading partners, the economic pressure is mounting. Friday’s modest gains in index futures suggest a cautious search for stability, though the combination of shifting global trade policy and Middle Eastern instability keeps trading volumes defensive.