DailyEdge

“Tariffs” may be the most beautiful word in the dictionary for U.S. President Donald Trump, but it is one that stokes fear in investors. Risk-on assets such as stocks and cryptocurrency sank Monday after Trump refused to pardon Canada and Mexico from a hefty 25% duty on all goods imported from both countries.

The first week of March will bring investors a crucial jobs report and a range of key retail earnings that could have the potential to either stoke or allay fears about the US economy and the consumer showing some signs of stress.

The stakes are high for the monthly U.S. jobs report in the coming week, as investors gauge whether a string of worrisome data is signaling significant concern about the economy. The benchmark S&P 500 stock index has pulled back 4% from its all-time high reached earlier this month, while falling Treasury yields and a slide in bitcoin are also indicating increasing investor wariness.

The company reported its fourth quarter earnings after the bell on Wednesday, beating analysts' expectations on the top and bottom lines and issuing solid Q1 guidance. Nvidia's stock swung between small gains and losses early on Thursday as investors digested the report. Shares were up less than 1% in premarket trading.

Global shares rose as investors geared up for key earnings results from Nvidia Corp. which could help reignite the artificial intelligence-driven rally.

Global shares traded cautiously higher on Tuesday, in light of growing evidence of a softening in the U.S. economy ahead of earnings from Nvidia, while the euro eased below the one-month highs that followed Germany's weekend election.

The company said Monday it will invest $500 billion on expanding US facilities over the next four years, a move that could help it avoid new tariffs on goods imported from China.

Nvidia's profit report next week could steer the U.S. stock market's course, as investors seek confirmation that the AI-driven investment trend, which has powered equities for two years, is intact after last month's panic-selling triggered by the Chinese startup DeepSeek.

Clouds and vertigo have tempered the S&P 500's new all-time highs in the form of heavy tariff threats, brewing discontent from trading partners and political allies, and a growing apprehension that inflation’s reacceleration — just barely under control — will only get worse.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he plans to impose tariffs of around 25% on auto imports as well as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals shipped to the United States as early as April 2.