The Fed's preferred inflation gauge and tariff talk

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🏛️ The Fed's preferred inflation gauge and tariff talk: Stocks struggled to gain steam last week as uncertainty around President Trump's tariff plans continued to loom over markets. The S&P 500 popped about 0.5% while the Dow Jones Industrial rose more than 1%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite added nearly 0.2%. This week, a reading of the Fed's preferred inflation gauge will highlight the economic releases. Yahoo Finance reports.

⏳ US planning to exclude sector-specific tariffs on April 2: U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is likely to exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on April 2. Trump said in February that he intended to impose auto tariffs "in the neighborhood of 25%" and similar duties on semiconductors and pharmaceutical imports, but he later agreed to delay some auto tariffs after a push by the three largest U.S. automakers for a waiver. Reuters reports.

🌏 Beijing pledges greater market access as top global CEOs gather at the China Development Forum: China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng has reassured foreign business leaders that Beijing will continue to open up its market and welcome more investment from multinational companies, according to a readout from the Ministry of Commerce. CNBC reports.

💊 Novo Nordisk’s next-gen obesity drug CagriSema had investors excited. Now they’re not so sure: Novo Nordisk’s hopes of heralding a new era of obesity treatment with its CagriSema drug have been called into question after a series of trial results sent shares falling. CNBC reports.

📝 Analysts are cutting first-quarter forecasts more than normal. They still expect growth: President Donald Trump’s tariffs have made consumers, the Federal Reserve and Wall Street more worried about the economy. But as investors turn their attention to first-quarter results in the weeks ahead, much of corporate America is still expected to put up a profit gain. MarketWatch reports.

🛒 US retailers haggle with suppliers after Trump tariffs: U.S. retailers Walmart and Target are bickering behind the scenes with their suppliers over proposed price hikes on everything from cake pans, tote bags and toys to other merchandise. The outcome of their talks will determine when and by how much merchandise prices rise - and even which products retailers will keep on store shelves. Yahoo Finance reports.

💰 AI chip startup FuriosaAI rejects Meta’s $800 million offer: Korean chip startup FuriosaAI has turned down an $800 million takeover offer from Meta Platforms, choosing instead to grow the business as an independent company, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Yahoo Finance reports.

(All pricing and percent gains are based on Early Pre-Market from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM Eastern Time)
Benzinga reports.

1) $IMTE: Integrated Media Tech
Total gain: +133.37%

2) $WINT: Windtree Therapeutics
Total gain: +44.59%

3) $MLGO: MicroAlgo
Total gain: +39.68%

4) $SOLT: 2x Solana ETF
Total gain: +22.42%

5) $AZEK: AZEK Co
Total gain: +18.67%

*Estimate and Actual numbers represent Earnings Per Share in US Dollars

KBH: KB Home
2Q 2025
After Market Close
Estimate: 0.400
Actual: N/A

OKLO: Oklo
4Q 2024
After Market Close
Estimate: -0.070
Actual: N/A

EPAC: Enerpac Tool Group
2Q 2025
After Market Close
Estimate: 0.400
Actual: N/A

Time (ET) / Report / Period

9:45 am - S&P flash U.S. services PMI - March
9:45 am - S&P flash U.S. manufacturing PMI - March

“The more you learn, the more you'll earn."

- Warren Buffett

Sourced in:
Buffett, Warren. Interview by Aaron Task. Money 101: Q&A with Warren Buffett. Yahoo Finance,
April 8, 2013.