Key Takeaways
- 1. Markets Post Worst Weekly Drop Since 2020
U.S. stock indices plunged across the board, with the S&P 500 down 8.21% and the Nasdaq dropping 8.55%, as rising trade tensions and fresh tariffs spooked investors. - 2. New U.S. Tariffs Spark Global Trade War Fears
President Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement triggered global market sell-offs, with China vowing retaliation and concerns mounting over prolonged economic fallout. - 3. Oil and Commodities Slide on OPEC+ Supply Boost and Market Turmoil
WTI crude oil hit a four-year low at $64.47 per barrel after OPEC+ announced a production increase amid tariff-induced market stress. Gold and silver also posted significant weekly losses. - 4. Tech Sector Takes Heavy Hit Amid Tariff Risks and Cyber Breaches
Information technology stocks fell sharply, with hardware and semiconductors down over 8%, while Oracle and TikTok faced major cybersecurity issues—raising sector-wide concerns. - 5. Safe-Haven Shift: Treasury Yields Fall Below 4%
As volatility surged and risk appetite faded, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield dipped below 4% for the first time since Trump’s election, signaling a flight to safety amid economic uncertainty.
IPO’s in the week
- UY Scuti Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: UYSCU), a New York-based blank check company formed in 2024 to pursue mergers or similar business combinations, completed its IPO on March 31, 2025. The company offered 5,000,000 units at $10.00 each, raising $50 million to fund its acquisition efforts.
- Waton Financial Ltd. (Nasdaq: WTF), an investment holding company offering securities brokerage, margin financing, and fintech services through its subsidiaries, completed its IPO on April 1, 2025. The company raised $20 million by offering 5,000,000 shares at $4.00 each to support its financial service operations and growth strategy.
- Siddhi Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: SDHIU), a blank check company formed to pursue mergers or similar business combinations, also completed its IPO on April 1, 2025. The company offered 20,000,000 units at $10.00 each, raising $200 million to fund future acquisition opportunities.
- Energys Group (Nasdaq: ENGS), one of the UK’s leading decarbonisation companies specializing in retrofitting the built environment, completed its IPO on April 1, 2025. The company offered 2,250,000 shares at $4.50 each, raising approximately $10.1 million to expand its energy efficiency and LED technology solutions.
- Top Win International Limited (Nasdaq: TOPW), a Hong Kong-based distributor serving B2B clients including watch dealers and retail sellers, completed its IPO on April 2, 2025. The company offered 2,664,000 shares at $4.00 each, raising approximately $10.66 million to support its growth and distribution channels.
- Soulpower Acquisition Corporation (NYSE: SOULU), a blank check company formed to pursue mergers or business combinations, completed its IPO on April 2, 2025. It raised $200 million through the sale of 20,000,000 units at $10.00 each, aiming to fund future acquisition opportunities.
- SmartStop Self Storage REIT (NYSE: SMA), one of North America’s largest self-storage companies, completed its IPO on April 2, 2025, offering 27,000,000 shares at $30.00 each and raising $810 million to fuel expansion across the U.S. and Canada.
- Sizzle Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: SZZLU), a SPAC targeting sectors like food & beverage, hospitality, and tech, raised $200 million in its IPO on April 2, 2025, offering 20,000,000 units at $10.00 each for future acquisitions.
- Lianhe Sowell International Group Ltd (Nasdaq: LHSW), a provider of industrial robotics and machine vision solutions for smart transportation and automation, completed its IPO on April 3, 2025, raising $8 million by offering 2,000,000 shares at $4.00.
- BeLive Holdings (Nasdaq: BLIV), a tech firm offering live commerce and shoppable video solutions through its SaaS and white-label platforms, went public on April 4, 2025. The company raised $9.8 million by offering 2,450,000 shares at $4.00 each.
Markets this week
- The S&P 500 Index fell 453.83 points or 8.21% this week.
- The Russell 1000 Index dropped 24.15 points or 8.01% during the week.
- The Russell 2000 Index lost 170.94 points or 8.56% this week.
- The Russell 3000 Index lost 269.77 points or 8.56% this week.
- The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) surged 21.20 points or 87.96% this week.
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 3067.66 points or 7.41% this week.
- The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 1,457.65 points or 8.55% this week.
- Bitcoin (USD) gained $1,007.74 or 1.22% during 5 trading days.
- Ethereum (USD) gained $9.02 or 0.50% during 5 trading days.
- XRP (USD) lost $0.0071 or 0.33% this week.
- Gold lost $55.40 or 1.79% this week.
- Silver lost $5.24 or 15.08% this week.
- WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil lost $7.11 or 10.24% this week.
- Brent Crude Oil lost $7.47 or 10.18% this week.
- On April 3, U.S. stocks tumbled as escalating trade tensions overshadowed solid job data. The S&P 500 experienced its worst day since 2020, reflecting investor anxiety over new tariff announcements.
- Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that it’s “too soon” to determine the future path of interest rates, given the market volatility spurred by recent tariff developments.
- WTI Crude Oil prices sank to $64.47 per barrel on April 3, marking a four-year low. The decline is attributed to increased OPEC supply and market turmoil following new U.S. tariffs.
- The yield on 10-year U.S. Treasuries fell below 4% for the first time since President Trump’s election, as investors sought safe-haven assets amid escalating trade tensions.
- The information technology sector faced significant losses, with a 6.86% drop on April 3. Sub-sectors like Technology Hardware & Equipment and Semiconductors were notably affected, declining by 9.16% and 8.62% respectively.
- On April 3, global stock markets experienced significant losses due to escalating trade tensions. Major indices in Europe and Asia reported declines, reflecting widespread investor concern.
- In response to the U.S.’s new tariff measures announced on April 2, China has promised to retaliate, raising fears of a prolonged trade war that could impact global economic growth.
- European stock indices, including the Euro Stoxx 50 and Germany’s DAX, saw declines of over 3% on April 3, as the region grappled with the implications of U.S. trade policies.
- Asian stock markets, including Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, recorded losses following the U.S.’s tariff announcements, reflecting concerns over regional economic impacts.
Politics Weekly
- On April 2, President Donald Trump unveiled extensive tariffs on imports from multiple countries, aiming to address trade imbalances. The announcement has sparked widespread debate regarding potential economic repercussions.
- Industry analysts, including Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities, have expressed concerns that the newly imposed tariffs could set the U.S. technology sector back by a decade, affecting companies like Apple and Tesla.
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s active role in the Trump administration and support for certain political movements have drawn attention, coinciding with a decline in Tesla’s sales and stock value.
- Economists are divided on the potential effects of the new tariffs, with some predicting a risk of recession and others suggesting it may strengthen domestic industries.
- European airline executives are apprehensive about the impact of U.S. tariffs on transatlantic flights, which could affect profitability and passenger demand.
- South Africa’s government has expressed hesitation in imposing reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports, citing concerns about potential economic fallout and advocating for a measured approach.
- The OPEC+ alliance announced a significant increase in oil production, a move interpreted as an effort to drive down prices and discipline member countries exceeding output limits.
- French far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces legal challenges, with President Trump labeling her trial a “witch hunt.” The situation is further complicated by ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and France.
Technology Advancements this week
- On April 2, Oracle informed its clients of a second cybersecurity breach within a short period, indicating that login data had been stolen. This follows an earlier incident involving unauthorized access to patient data in Oracle’s health division.
- TikTok is under scrutiny for a data breach that may result in a fine exceeding €500 million. The breach has raised concerns about user data protection and compliance with European data privacy regulations.
- Reports from March 31 indicate that North Korean IT professionals are seeking positions within European companies as part of efforts to infiltrate and potentially compromise cybersecurity.
- In response to recent cyberattacks, the UK government is set to require approximately 1,000 companies to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses to protect against future threats.
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