US stocks end mixed amid uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - US stocks ended mixed Tuesday amid uncertainty ahead of tariff announcements by the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce reciprocal tariffs Wednesday on what he has dubbed “Liberation Day,” which he said would cover all countries.

The Washington Post reported earlier in the day that White House aides have drafted a plan for 20% reciprocal tariffs on most imports to the US.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference that the tariffs will take effect immediately after the announcement.

Amid the uncertainty over the impact of Trump's trade policies on the economy, the US 10-year bond yield fell to 4.16% from 4.23% late Monday.

While investors were concerned that tariffs could fuel inflationary pressures and damage economic growth, they also closely monitored macroeconomic data.

The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 49 in March, below market expectations and signaling a contraction in the sector.

The number of US job openings as reported in the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report also fell to 7.56 million in February, below market expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.028%, or 11.80 points, to end the day at 41,989.96.

The S&P 500 increased by 0.38%, or 21.22 points, to 5,633.07, while the Nasdaq Composite was up by 0.87%, or 150.60 points, to 17,449.89.

The VIX Index, also known as the “fear index,” dropped 2.29% to 21.77.