Trump's Tariff Tantrum: Stocks Take a Tumble

The stock market took a nosedive on a Thursday, with the S&P 500 officially entering a correction territory. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 537 points, or 1. 3%, while the S&P 500 fell by 1. 39% and the Nasdaq Composite declined by 1. 96%. What caused this sudden plunge? President Trump's latest trade war escalation, this time targeting the European Union with a potential 200% tariff on alcoholic beverages. The EU had previously hit back at the US with a 50% tariff on American spirits, in response to Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump, however, showed no signs of backing down, stating that the US has been "ripped off" for years and that any economic disruption would be short-lived. The trade war has been a rollercoaster for the markets, with uncertainty about tariffs driving the selloff. The last time the S&P 500 was in correction territory was in 2023, when it fell by 10. 3% from July to October. This time around, the correction took 24 days to recover from. The US Treasury Secretary downplayed the market volatility, focusing instead on the "real economy" and long-term outlook. The market's initial reaction to the day's producer price index data was mixed. While the slowing inflation rate was reassuring, the escalating trade war sent shockwaves through US stocks. Investors are worried about the potential inflationary effects of the tariffs, which could impact both the markets and the Federal Reserve's decisions. The Cboe Volatility Index, Wall Street's fear gauge, spiked to its highest level since December, indicating "extreme fear" in the markets. Tech stocks, in particular, have taken a beating in the past month, with constant policy changes and news from the Trump administration causing market turmoil. The S&P 500 has fallen by more than 6% this year, lagging behind indexes in Europe and Asia.