📰 Market Headlines

Yesterday, Markets edged higher for a third straight session as earnings optimism helped offset ongoing trade tensions.

• The Dow rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 gained 0.3%, and the Nasdaq advanced 0.4%.

However, pre-market today, April 16th, is showing troubling signs for the upcoming session, with NVIDIA down almost 7% before the open today.

NVIDIA is driving tech stocks down thanks largely due to the US Government barring them from selling H20 chips to China, which will apparently lead to a $5.5 billion dollar drawdown this quarter.

President Trump threatened Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing $2.2 billion in federal funding over the university’s refusal to meet policy demands.

About 20,000 IRS employees expressed interest in Trump’s deferred resignation offer, potentially cutting the agency’s workforce by 20% during peak tax season.

The White House considered new tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals while hinting at relief for automakers, deepening market uncertainty.

European pharma giants demanded help from EU leadership to maintain operations during threatened US tariffs.

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🌏 Alternative investing news

Gold has hit a record high with market uncertainty and global currencies in flux.

In semi-related news, the US Dollar is down more than 3% this week and 8% YTD.

Markets continue to be choppy at best, with large spikes and declines driven mostly by geopolitical news updates coming every few hours.

In times like this, it’s worth considering less common investment vehicles like Private Credit and Hedged Equity with downside protection, which historically drive strong returns, even in challenging markets.

Where financial advisors typically suggest a 60/40 approach with stocks & fixed income, many wealth managers are downgrading bonds in favor of vehicles like private credit. More than 3x the global financial managers polled said they would be adding more private credit to their investment strategies in 2025 vs 2023.

 📊 Ideas, trends, and analysis

🧠 Make yourself heard

There are plenty of indicators that are concerning, but also reason to believe that geopolitical progress could jolt the market(s)…

😱 Fear and Greed Index

📊 Earnings this week

• Bank of America beat analysts' estimates with profit climbing 11% on stronger-than-expected net interest income; shares advanced 4%.

• Citi topped Q1 expectations with profit surging 21% as fixed income trading revenue rose 8%; shares climbed 3%.

• J.B. Hunt beat lowered Q1 expectations; stock reaction pending after-hours trading.

• PNC reported higher Q1 profit as net interest income rose and capital markets revenue climbed 18%, sending shares up 1%.

• United Airlines beat Q1 expectations but offered two profit forecasts, citing economic unpredictability.

Market movers

• Nvidia risked $5.5 billion in lost sales after new US rules blocked H20 chip exports to China.

• A federal judge voided the CFPB’s credit card late fee cap after the agency admitted the rule was unlawful.

• GM's BrightDrop halted EV van production and cut 450 jobs due to weak demand and excess inventory.

• The federal government prepared for more mass firings as thousands of employees accepted buyouts.

• Forever 21’s bankruptcy plan repaid just 3% to 6% of $433 million to unsecured creditors, drawing criticism over supplier losses.

🎤 What you said last time

“The recession is already here; the numbers just aren't in yet. With economic uncertainty comes pullback by the consumer. When everybody decides to prepare for uncertainty by holding on to cash, a recession is inevitable. Consumers made this decision weeks ago, as reflected in the consumer confidence survey.”

📺 What to watch today