US stocks fall again as more Trump tariffs take effect
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Traders working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, during morning trading, on March 4, in New York City.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW YORK - Wall Street stocks tumbled March 4 after the United States proceeded with new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, exacerbating worries that higher inflation will prompt a recession.
US President Donald Trump, who had suspended for a month an earlier plan for 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, implemented the levies this time around.
His administration also doubled tariffs on China.
All three countries have either imposed their own retaliatory tariffs or said they will, deepening worries about a broad and messy trade war.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 1.6 per cent at 42,520.99.
The broad-based S&P 500 declined 1.2 per cent to 5,778.15, while the tech-rich Nasdaq composite Index shed 0.4 per cent to 18,285.16.
“The longer the tariffs last or are in effect, the longer that this market will decline,” Mr Sam Stovall, of CFRA Research, said.
“Investors are worried that we are headed for a recession and a bear market.”
Of the 11 industrial sectors in the S&P 500, 10 finished in negative territory, with technology flat.
The biggest losers in the Dow included Boeing, which lost 6.6 per cent, 3M, which dropped nearly 5 per cent and American Express, which sank 4.1 per cent.
Slumping electric car maker Tesla, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, dropped 4.4 per cent following disappointing sales in China.
Best Buy tumbled 13.3 per cent despite reporting solid earnings as the electronics retailer signalled they expect price hikes due to tariffs. AFP
