Wall Street kicked off the week with a cautious tone, as major stock indices hovered near the flatline by midday in New York. Investors digested fresh signs of inflationary pressure in the services sector, raising doubts about near-term rate cuts and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">weighing on risk appetite.</a>



The ISM Services PMI for April pointed to only marginal growth, the slowest since late 2023, while the index for prices paid surged to its highest reading in more than two years, reflecting a sharp rise in input costs amid renewed trade disruptions tied to tariffs announced last month by President Donald Trump.



The S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.2% to 5,670, while the Nasdaq 100 matched the decline to 20,050. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, managed a modest 0.2% gain. If the S&amp;P 500 closes higher, it would mark its tenth consecutive session of gains, the longest winning streak since September 1995.



Rising bond yields pressured equities, with the 10-year Treasury yield climbing 4 basis points to 4.35%, and the 30-year yield up at 4.83%.



Speaking at the Milken Institute, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. was nearing agreements on new trade deals, potentially as soon as this week. He indicated that 17 trading partners, excluding China, had presented strong proposals, and suggested that meaningful progress with China could also emerge in the coming weeks.



Meanwhile, oil prices dropped 2% to $57 a barrel following OPEC+'s signal of a 411,000 bpd production hike starting in June, with further increases possible over the summer.



Gold rallied 2%, on track for its strongest session in two weeks, while Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) held steady near $94,000.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>Chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>41,418.85</td><td>+0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,677.19</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2,016.46</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>20,057.89</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:42 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) inched 0.2% down to $565.72.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.3% to $414.11.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;fell 0.2% to $487.66.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) inched 0.1% lower to $200.11.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Industrials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) outperformed, up 0.6%; the&nbsp;Energt Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down 1.4%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>



Stocks reacting to earnings reports included: 



<ul>
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) down 4.26%</li>



<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) up 2.07%</li>



<li>Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) down 7.63%</li>



<li>Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBH#NYSE">ZBH</a>) down 9.28%</li>



<li>Loews Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/L#NYSE">L</a>) down 1.29%</li>



<li>ON Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ON#NASDAQ">ON</a>) down 8.17%</li>



<li>Henry Schein Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>) up 0.86%</li>
</ul>



Stocks scheduled to report earnings after the close include Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>), The Clorox Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLX#NYSE">CLX</a>), Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CTRA#NYSE">CTRA</a>), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>), Diamondback Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NASDAQ">FANG</a>), Realty Income Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>), The Williams Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMB#NYSE">WMB</a>), Celanese Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CE#NYSE">CE</a>), Fabrinet (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FN#NYSE">FN</a>), Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LSCC#NASDAQ">LSCC</a>), Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>).



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45198741/goldman-sachs-issues-bearish-40-oil-forecast-as-opec-pumps-more-energy-stocks-sink">Goldman Sachs Issues Bearish $40 Oil Forecast As OPEC+ Pumps More: Energy Stocks Sink</a></li>
</ul>



Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Equities

Large Cap

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Econ #s

Economics

Analyst Ratings

Tech

ETFs

$BTC

CTRA

FANG

HSIC

LSCC

PLTR

VRTX

Stocks Pause Gains As Treasury Yields Rise: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Palantir Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) will report its first-quarter earnings on Monday. Wall Street expects 13 cents in EPS and $862.83 million in revenues when the company reports<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings?tickers=PLTR" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> after market hours</a>.



The stock is up 392.98% over the past year and 65.29% year-to-date.



Let&#8217;s examine the charts for Palantir stock and how it compares to Wall Street estimates.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45188268/palantir-climbs-above-126-in-overnight-robinhood-trading-so-many-bears-out-there-says-lawrence-mcdonald">Palantir Climbs Above $126 In Overnight Robinhood Trading: &#8216;So Many Bears Out There,&#8217; Says Lawrence McDonald</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is Palantir Stock Overheating Ahead Of Q1 Earnings?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0505"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="633" height="489" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-901670" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM.png 633w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/05110231/Screenshot-2025-05-05-at-8.18.38-PM-300x232.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px" /></a></figure>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0505">Chart created using Benzinga Pro</a>



Palantir stock is putting on a show for the bulls. With its share price of $123.20 comfortably perched above its five-, 20-, and 50-day exponential moving averages, the bullish short-term trend is flashing. Even the 200-day simple moving average trails far behind at $64.91, highlighting just how steep the rally has been. Each of these technical signals points in the same direction: up.



Adding fuel to the fire, Palantir's eight-day simple moving average sits at $116.68, well below the current stock price &#8211; a bullish confirmation. The 20-day and 50-day simple moving averages are at $101.04 and $91.94, respectively, further underscoring the strength of momentum. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator reads 8.86, another classic sign that buying pressure remains intact.



But before investors jump on the rocket ship, there&#8217;s a note of caution: the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has crossed into overbought territory at 71. While overbought doesn't necessarily mean a pullback is imminent, it suggests the stock may be due for a breather.



Palantir's technicals are undeniably bullish, but with momentum running hot, chasing at these levels might require nimble footwork.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Palantir Analysts See 37% Downside</h2>



Ratings &amp; Consensus Estimates:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PLTR/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> The consensus analyst rating</a> on Palantir stock stands at a Neutral currently with a price target of $69.76. Three recent analyst ratings imply a 37.3% downside for Palantir stock, with an average price target of $76.67.



PLTR Price Action: Palantir stock was trading at $123.36 at the time of publication.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45187449/dan-ives-calls-palantir-the-missing-piece-in-ai-puzzle-expects-good-news-from-alex-karps-company-on-monday">Dan Ives Calls Palantir The &#8216;Missing Piece&#8217; In AI Puzzle, Expects &#8216;Good News&#8217; From Alex Karp&#8217;s Company On Monday</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Technicals

Previews

Trading Ideas

Palantir Smokes S&P 500 Peers With 393% Rally But Overheated Technicals Raise Red Flag Ahead Of Earnings

China and the U.S. appear ready to hit pause on tit-for-tat tariffs to pursue a potential trade agreement, inspiring Wall Street veteran investor Ed Yardeni to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/recession">dial back recession odds</a>. 



What Happened: Signs emerge that Washington, D.C. and Beijing may finally be willing to ease trade tensions that have rocked global markets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/econ-s">and dented economic confidence.</a>



In a note shared Monday, Yardeni said he's reducing his subjective probability of a U.S. recession to 35%. That&#8217;s down from 45% at the end of March.



Yardeni&#8217;s new estimate matches the level seen in early March and reflects growing optimism that ongoing tariff disputes will de-escalate.



"We are now lowering our odds of a recession back down to 35% because we believe that China and the US both may be ready to suspend their tariffs on each other while they negotiate a trade deal," the Yardeni Research President said.



"In other words, both sides may be starting to blink."



Markets have been rebounding sharply amid latest trade developments. Yardeni sees this as a reflection of confidence in a resolution and perhaps an early end to what he dubbed Trump's &#8220;Reign of Tariffs.&#8221;



Yet, he isn't blind to risks. 



"There could still be supply disruptions resulting from the still unresolved trade war with China," he said, noting that regional and national business surveys have indicated softening economic activity and rising prices through March and April.



CFTC-regulated prediction market Kalshi shows recession odds — defined as two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product — have fallen from 69% a week ago to 55% as of early May. When Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president, odds were just 19%.



Why It Matters: Despite the softening probability, Yardeni still considers the current economic environment fragile, citing heavy consumer exposure to financial markets.



"We had been concerned recently about the negative wealth effect on consumption because of the drop in stock prices," Yardeni said, but recent gains in equity markets have alleviated that concern.



The S&amp;P 500 — as tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) — rallied sharply in April. Yardeni is weighing whether to revise his year-end target higher again.



He initially forecasted 7,000 for 2025 but lowered that to 6,400 on March 5 and then to 6,000 by March 31.



"We are inclined to do so given the power of the V-shaped rally in the S&amp;P 500," Yardeni said. "However, we aren't ready to do so" due to ongoing earnings pressure and valuation concerns.



On April 8, the price-to-earnings multiple for the index bottomed at 18.1 but rose to 20.5 by the end of April. 



The biggest drag on earnings may still be tariffs, which Yardeni emphasized are "first and foremost taxes on domestic importers." 



Currently, the U.S. has imposed a 10% tariff on most imports, plus a 25% tariff on autos, aluminum and steel. Chinese goods have a staggering 145% levy.



What&#8217;s Next: With corporate tax receipts totaling $502.19 billion over the past 12 months, Yardeni estimates tariffs could raise over $300 billion in duties in the coming year — a significant potential hit to corporate profits unless companies pass costs on to consumers.



"Trump needs to put the trade issue behind him to reduce the odds of a recession, which would harm the Republicans' chances of holding onto their slim majorities in both houses of Congress," Yardeni said.



Court challenges to Trump's authority to impose tariffs under a national emergency declaration are also gaining traction. If the courts or political pressure force Trump to delay or drop the tariffs, Yardeni predicts it could trigger "a V-shaped stock-market bottom."



In his words: "We're counting on that; the alternative is just plain ugly."



Now Read: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45188125/sp-500-notches-longest-win-streak-in-over-2-decades-investor-sentiment-improves-greed-index-in-fear-zone">S&amp;P 500 Notches Longest Win Streak In Over 2 Decades: Investor Sentiment Improves, Greed Index In &#8216;Fear&#8217; Zone</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Wall Street Veteran Investor Lowers Recession Risk As US-China Trade War Cools

Footwear giant Skechers U.S.A. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>) stock is soaring <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/movers" rel="noreferrer noopener">on Monday</a>. The company agreed to go private following its acquisition by global investment firm 3G Capital.



The agreement offers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/b45192792/skechers-agrees-to-be-acquired-by-3g-capital" rel="noreferrer noopener">shareholders $63.00 per share in cash</a>, a 30% premium over Skechers' recent trading average or a blended option of cash and equity units in the post-transaction entity.



This amounts to a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44994833/skechers-announces-first-quarter-2025-financial-results-and-record-quarterly-sales" rel="noreferrer noopener"> deal value of $9.54 billion</a> calculated using 151.49 billion weighted-average shares used in calculating net earnings per share.



3G Capital and Skechers' management see the deal as a long-term growth opportunity for the California-based footwear leader.



Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45170433/kimberly-clark-commits-2b-to-us-expansion-overhaul" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kimberly-Clark Commits $2 Billion For US Expansion Overhaul</a>



Robert Greenberg will remain chairman and CEO, joined by Michael Greenberg as president and David Weinberg as COO. The leadership team will continue to drive Skechers' strategy. The company will keep its headquarters in Manhattan Beach, California.



Under the deal's terms, investors may choose the all-cash option or a mixed package of $57.00 per share and a non-tradable equity unit in the new private company.



The mixed consideration is limited to 20% of total shares, and selections exceeding this cap will be adjusted proportionally. Shareholders who do not make a selection will receive the full-cash option by default.



The transaction has already secured consent from stakeholders holding around 60% of Skechers' voting power, meaning no further shareholder vote is necessary.



The board of directors guided by an independent committee unanimously approved the agreement. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory review and customary closing conditions.



In FY24, Skechers <a target="_blank" href="https://investors.skechers.com/press-releases/detail/649/skechers-announces-2024-record-annual-sales-of-8-97-billion" rel="noreferrer noopener">recorded a 12.1% increase</a> in revenue to $8.97 billion, with a 13.2% growth in Wholesale sales and a 10.7% increase in Direct-to-Consumer sales.



The buyout will be financed through a combination of capital from 3G and debt underwritten by JPMorgan Chase Bank. Upon finalization, Skechers' shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.



Price Action: SKX shares traded higher by 25.1% at $61.75 at last check Monday.



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/05/45149436/norwegian-cruise-line-faces-declining-bookings-currency-loss-analyst" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Norwegian Cruise Line Faces Declining Bookings, Currency Loss: Analyst</a></li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

News

Movers

General

Footwear Giant Skechers To Go Private At 30% Premium In PE Deal

As May opens for business, shell-shocked stock market investors are waving goodbye to April with both hands. While the major stock indexes have <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/45027002/benzinga-bulls-and-bears-netflix-novavax-intel-and-the-market-begins-to-bounce-back">bounced back</a> moderately over the last week, stocks fell 11% at one point and declined 20% since mid-February, primarily due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/25/04/45050322/how-youll-know-the-tariff-troubles-are-over">tariff troubles</a> affecting the global economy.



That's not all. Consumer spending was at a two-year low in the first quarter of 2025, while first-quarter US gross domestic product fell by 0.3%, fueling talk of a recession on the horizon.



Older traders are talking about a &#8220;Templeton Moment&#8221; right now, and likely with good reason. The term stems from legendary trader John Templeton, who famously borrowed $10,000 to buy shares in every company trading on the New York Stock Exchange for under $1 during a market trough in 1939, during the Great Depression. The list included 104 companies, including 34 that were bankrupt. A few years later, Templeton banked huge gains on all but four stocks when he sold.



Today&#8217;s market could be your opportunity for something similar.



"It doesn&#8217;t resemble a &#8216;Templeton Moment,&#8217; but I would be cautious," said Eugenia Mykuliak, founder and executive director at B2PRIME Group, a global financial services provider for institutional investors. "Today&#8217;s market has more nuances, and we're not close to an &#8216;extreme&#8217; pessimism, unlike the 1930s. Even though there are some well-valued stocks out there, that's certainly not an invitation to buy in bulk."



Unlike the 1930's, which saw economic indicators drag across the board, this market has largely fallen victim to one malady.



&#8220;Uncertainty has been generated by the announcement, delay, magnitude, and duration of tariffs," said Karl Farmer, portfolio manager at Rockland Trust Bank. "With over 40% of the S&amp;P 500's revenues coming from outside the US, the tariffs can have some big impacts on inventory management and purchase plans as producers and consumers face higher prices."



Resulting market uncertainty means less confidence in profit consistency and usually lower multiples that investors place on earnings.



"Higher costs likely lead to lower profits if sellers cannot pass on the price increases to their customers, or at a minimum, it leads to lower consumption," Farmer said. "A lower multiple coupled with lower profits means lower market levels. The longer the tariffs remain, the more likely there will be behavior changes by both producers and consumers, as many will seek alternatives if they believe that higher prices are not temporary."



If the delayed reciprocal tariffs are implemented in full and there have been few negotiated breakthroughs, "then we have not seen the bottom," Farmer added.



Here are today&#8217;s buying opportunities and what to look out for.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stocks To Pounce On At Lower Market Levels</h2>



Templeton or no Templeton, when the markets slide significantly, there's always low-hanging fruit available, and the US stock market is no different. Here are a few names that stock market gurus like in a shallower pricing market.



British American Tobacco (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTI#NYSE">BTI</a>). Sluggish stock markets spell opportunity for stocks that demonstrate good resilience amid uncertainty, especially those that turn to future-oriented technologies, Mykuliak said.



Shopify (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHOP#NASDAQ">SHOP</a>). Mykuliak also likes stocks that offer investors a double dose of value.



"Shopify could be another good example of a perfect combination of AI and e-commerce, which are two powerful trends today," she said. "If merchants want to adapt to new retail realities, it&#8217;s a top choice for them."



Nike (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>). According to Farmer, defensive sectors such as consumer staples and utilities have held up very well this year. "Presently, we favor some names in other areas that may have been overly punished, but could provide above-average returns for the patient investor," he said.



Nike tops that list. Nike is no quick fix for a 2025 portfolio, but it makes sense in this market.



"A pop could be had here if tariffs end quickly," Farmer said. "Nike did have issues even before tariffs, but it's a reinvigorating brand, and it's repairing relationships. Plus, Nike shares are down 70% from peak to 2017 levels, which provides a decent entry point."



Air Products and Chemicals (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APD#NYSE">APD</a>). Air Products is a market leader in industrial gas trading at a big discount to competitor Linde (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LIN#NASDAQ">LIN</a>). "Future growth is coming from new projects and clean energy transition," Farmer said. "Additionally, the company has a strong and predictable recurring revenue model with on-site plants and 20-year contracts." Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO) is a market leader in life sciences, diagnostics and instruments.



"The stock is off 30% in the last three months on fears of spending cutbacks from customers who rely on federal funding for research," Farmer notes. "It's trading at less than market multiples for better earnings growth. Meanwhile, clarity on federal funding should mark a bottom."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More Than A "Buy the Dip" Scenario</h2>



As uncertainty prevails in the stock market, money managers are taking a more defensive stance with their portfolios, with one eye on historical trends.



"Historically, when volatility spikes—as it did in early April—the equity markets tend to see large gains one year later," said Andrew Constantinides, a financial advisor at Neil Jesani Wealth Management. "In the short term, however, calling the bottom is much harder. Investors should always remember: There can always be more downside in the market—unless it's at zero."



Constantinides said his firm is primarily focused on value and international stocks.



"Both categories have underperformed U.S. growth stocks over the past 10 years," he noted. "But Q1 of 2025 showed the first real signs of a cycle shift back toward value and international leadership. We favor developed markets, such as Europe and Asia. Our current sector focus is energy and financials—companies with low price-to-earnings ratios and high earnings yield. We have almost no exposure to large-cap tech."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Dark Horse Stocks Most Investors Aren't Following (But Should)</h2>



Every Friday, five overlooked stocks land on our ‘Whisper Index.' Like Coinbase before it surged 245% higher. And the biotech breakthrough Insmed before it jumped 20% in a single month. Beat Wall Street to these next potential winners. Access the Whisper Index <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge/?el=ResearchDaily&amp;he={{email}}&amp;adt_ei={{email}}&amp;utm_adType=SponsorAd&amp;utm_ad=RD0505&amp;utm_campaign=commandcenter">HERE</a>.



Editorial content from our Expert contributors is intended to be information for the general public and not individualized investment advice. Editors/contributors are presenting their individual opinions and strategies, which are neither expressly nor impliedly approved or endorsed by Benzinga.



Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

SHOP

This Market Is The Buying Opportunity Of A Lifetime

The streaming giant Netflix, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) stock traded lower on Monday. President&nbsp;Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/05/45187710/peter-schiff-says-trumps-100-tariff-on-foreign-films-pointless-without-targeting-streamingwarns-netflix-subscribers-would-bear-cost" rel="noreferrer noopener">foreign-produced movies</a> raised alarm among investors regarding streaming stocks.



"This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda," Trump said on Truth Social.



Economist&nbsp;Peter Schiff&nbsp;criticized the move, citing potential subscriber losses for companies like&nbsp;Netflix.



Walt Disney Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBD#NASDAQ">WBD</a>), and Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>), Amazon Prime video parent Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) stocks are trading lower on Monday.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/04/44826592/netflix-wants-to-be-the-next-1-trillion-company-analyst-highlights-growth-path" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Wants To Be The Next $1 Trillion Company, Analyst Highlights Growth Path</a>



In April, China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/44756409/hollywood-becomes-collateral-damage-in-trump-tariff-war-as-china-slashes-film-imports-says-us-actions-will-inevitably-reduce-favorability-towards-american-films" rel="noreferrer noopener">promised to</a> restrict Hollywood film imports in retaliation for tariff increases on Chinese goods. In 2024, U.S. studios earned $600 million from China.



Disney's Marvel movie "Thunderbolts" secured permission to debut in China on April 30, but the fate of other summer blockbusters remains uncertain.&nbsp;



Movie and TV production&nbsp;noted an exodus from Hollywood to locations with tax incentives, prompting media companies like Netflix and Disney to film overseas in countries like Canada and Britain.



Global governments increased credits and cash rebates to attract production and capture a greater share of the $248 billion that Ampere Analysis expects to be spent globally in 2025 to produce content, Reuters reports.



Australia and New Zealand&nbsp;promised to extend solidarity with their local industries. Disney Marvel has filmed many superhero movies in Australia. The Lord of the Rings was shot in New Zealand.



Film and high-end TV production in the U.K. was worth 5.6 billion pounds ($7.45 billion) in 2024, a 31% jump in 2023, Reuters cited the British Film Institute.



It is not clear to which movies the tariffs would apply or whether it would include streaming services. According to Reuters, Hollywood executives were trying to find out the details on Sunday.



Price Action: NFLX stock is down by 5.45% at $1,093.41 premarket at the last check on Monday.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/03/44539949/disney-analyst-sees-profit-growth-ahead-with-streaming-gains-park-recovery-big-film-releases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disney Analyst Sees Profit Growth Ahead With Streaming Gains, Park Recovery, Big Film Releases</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy marekfromrzeszow via Shutterstock

Government

Regulations

Media

AMZN

NFLX

PARA

Netflix And Other Streaming Stocks Slide As Trump's Proposed Tariffs On Foreign Films Sparks Concern

U.S. stock futures fell on Monday after a nine-day winning streak on the S&amp;P 500 index. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.



The S&amp;P 500 index notched a nine-day advance for the first time since November 2004 on Friday.



While aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump confirmed U.S. officials are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/05/45188171/china-pushes-for-special-envoys-as-direct-deal-with-trump-deemed-risky-plans-fentanyl-concessions-as-negotiating-leverage-report">engaged in trade discussions</a> with Chinese counterparts, though he has no planned meeting with President Xi Jinping this week. 



While the Chinese have proposed the concept of special envoys, the U.S. is reluctant, favoring direct negotiations between Trump and Xi. However, the Chinese view this proposal as "risky and uncertain", <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3308919/us-china-trade-stand-ease-negotiators-must-be-agreed-upon-analysts">reported</a> the South China Morning Post.



Investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision on interest rates this week.



Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.31% and the two-year bond was at 3.82%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool</a>&#8216;s projections show markets pricing a 98.2% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.66%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.77%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-0.89%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.88%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Monday. The SPY was down 0.70% to $562.82, while the QQQ declined 0.84% to $484.74, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Bolstered by strong performances in financial, communication services, and industrial stocks on Friday, U.S. markets finished the week higher for all major averages.



The S&amp;P 500, which recorded its ninth consecutive day of gains, the longest since Nov. 2004, and added 2.9% for the week, saw contrasting movements with health care and consumer staples declining on Friday. The Dow gained 3% and the Nasdaq rose 3.4% for the week.



After the end of the nine-day streak, the S&amp;P 500 index was out of the correction zone, just down 7.5% from its record high of 6,147.43 points, scaled on Feb. 19. Dow Jones was 8.33% lower than its 52-week high of 45,073.63 points and Nasdaq 100 was 9.54% lower than its previous high of 22,222.61 points.



Strong jobs data and rising factory orders buoyed the market. Nonfarm payrolls exceeded forecasts at 177,000, easing tariff-related hiring concerns, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Additionally, new orders for U.S.-manufactured goods jumped 4.3% in March to $618.8 billion.



The Dow Jones index jumped 565 points or 1.39% to 41,317.43, whereas the S&amp;P 500 index surged 1.47% to 5,686.67. Nasdaq Composite ended 1.51% higher at 17,977.73, and the small-cap gauge, Russell 2000, also advanced 2.27% to 2,020.74.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>1.51%</td><td>17,977.73</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>1.47%</td><td>5,686.67</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>1.39%</td><td>41,317.43</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>2.27%</td><td>2,020.74</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



According to Brian Therien, the investment strategist at Edward Jones, the process of completing a U.S.-China trade deal would likely be complex and lengthy. &#8220;Any de-escalation in trade tensions should be positive for the economy and financial markets, in our view,&#8221; he said.



The solid labor market should allow the Fed to remain on hold a while longer, said Therien, as it will help the Fed to gain greater clarity on the impact of tariffs on inflation.



&#8220;Bond markets have pushed back expectations for the next Fed funds rate cut to July, from June, though total rate cuts priced in for this year remain in the 3-4 range,&#8221; he said.



&#8220;Wider earnings growth should drive more balanced market performance across sectors, strengthening the case for portfolio diversification, in our view,&#8221; he said about corporate earnings.



Ryan Detrick from Carson Research highlighted that the S&amp;P 500 has witnessed seven other nine-day winning streaks over the last 40 years.



&#8220;Only once did the economy move into a recession within six months, and that was in 1990 when oil spiked due to Iraq invading Kuwait,&#8221; he highlighted.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Going back 40 years there have been seven other 9-day win streaks for the S&amp;P 500. Only once did the economy move into a recession within six months and that was in 1990 when oil spiked due to Iraq invading Kuwait.&mdash; Ryan Detrick, CMT (@RyanDetrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanDetrick/status/1919227797169381422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures </a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on this week:



<ul>
<li>On Monday, the S&amp;P final U.S. services PMI for April will be out by 9:45 a.m., and ISM services data for April will be released by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Tuesday, the U.S. trade deficit data for March will be out by 8:30 a.m.</li>



<li>On Wednesday, the FOMC meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m., and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will deliver the verdict at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>Consumer credit for March will be out by 3:00 p.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Thursday, initial jobless claims for the week ended May 3 and U.S. productivity data for the first quarter will be released by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>March&#8217;s wholesale inventories data will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>On Friday, Fed Governor Michael Barr will speak at 5:55 a.m., New York Fed President John Williams will speak at 6:15 a.m., and Fed Governor Adriana Kugler will speak at 6:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Fed Governor Lisa Cook will speak at 6:45 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin speaks at 8:30 a.m., Fed Governor Christopher Waller and New York Fed President John Williams will speak on a panel at 11:30 a.m. ET.</li>



<li>Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, and Fed Cleveland President Beth Hammack will speak on a panel at 7:45 p.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>) rose 2.78% in premarket on Monday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of 82 cents per share on revenue of $13.14 billion.</li>



<li>Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>) was 0.5% higher as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of $4.90 per share on revenue of $8.19 billion before the opening bell.</li>



<li>Transcode Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RNAZ#NASDAQ">RNAZ</a>) dropped 21.67% after announcing a 1-for-28 reverse stock split.</li>



<li>Henry Schein Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSIC#NASDAQ">HSIC</a>) fell 1.36% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $1.11 per share on revenue of $3.23 billion.</li>



<li>Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) declined 0.19% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 2 cents per share on revenue of $36.20 billion after the closing bell.</li>



<li>Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FFAI#NASDAQ">FFAI</a>) rose 5.98% after it announced an additional significant pre-order for its FX Super One MPV, adding 300 Units in another B2B Agreement.</li>



<li>Bon Natural Life Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BON#NASDAQ">BON</a>) slumped 13.08% after it received a delisting notice as the stock crashed below 10 cents.</li>



<li>Polyrizon Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLRZ#NASDAQ">PLRZ</a>) jumped 18.81% as trading on a post-split basis began on May 5.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading lower in the early New York session by 1.58% to hover around $57.37 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar rose 1.65% to hover around $3,294.46 per ounce. Its last record high stood at $3,305.13 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.39% at the 99.6370 level.



Asian markets were mixed on Monday. China&#8217;s CSI 300 and Australia's ASX 200 indices declined. While Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, and South Korea's Kospi index rose. European markets were also mixed in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45188341/billionaire-mark-cuban-asks-if-small-businesses-be-ignored-after-trump-redirects-question-on-tariff-relief-for-little-businesses">Billionaire Mark Cuban Asks Should Small Businesses Be &#8216;Ignored&#8217; After Trump Redirects Question On Tariff Relief For &#8216;Little Businesses&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Market Summary

Futures

Federal Reserve

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

FFAI

PLRZ

RNAZ

US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After S&P 500's 9-Day Streak: 'Any De-Escalation In Trade Tensions Should Be Positive,' Says Expert

Economist Mohamed El-Erian predicts the Federal Reserve will maintain current interest rates amid ongoing global economic uncertainty and growing trade tensions with China.



What Happened: El-Erian, Allianz Chief Economic Advisor, wrote on X that the &#8220;highly data-dependent Federal Reserve&#8221; would likely &#8220;find it hard to do anything other than leave interest rates unchanged&#8221; at its upcoming meeting.



The prominent economist highlighted several central bank meetings scheduled for this week, noting divergent approaches expected across global economies, including &#8220;a UK cut and a Brazil hike.&#8221;



El-Erian highlighted upcoming economic data that could show the effects of rising U.S.-China trade tensions, especially China's Caixin PMI—a key gauge of private sector activity—and, to a lesser extent, factory output indicators in Europe.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In the week ahead for the global economy and markets, look for the highly data-dependent Federal Reserve to find it hard to do anything other than leave interest rates unchanged and try to get through the statement and, especially, the press conference without making any…&mdash; Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) <a href="https://twitter.com/elerianm/status/1919008277137871338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/price-target/25/05/45187951/on-semiconductor-gears-up-for-q1-print-here-are-the-recent-forecast-changes-from-wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts">ON Semiconductor Gears Up For Q1 Print; Here Are The Recent Forecast Changes From Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts</a>



Why It Matters:&nbsp;His comments come as recent data already shows concerning signs in China&#8217;s economy, with April manufacturing activity contracting for the first time in three months. The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/45094345/as-chinas-manufacturing-contracts-beijing-releases-defiant-video-calling-us-a-paper-tiger-and-vows-to-never-kneel-to-trumps-trade-war">Index fell to 49.0</a>, marking its weakest performance since mid-2023 amid falling export demand.



The observations align with shifting market expectations around future Fed policy. Betting markets tracked by Kalshi now favor just two <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/econ-s/25/03/44386583/speculators-trim-2025-rate-cut-bets-ahead-of-march-fed-meeting-as-inflation-risks-rise">rate cuts</a> for 2025 with a 24% implied probability, while the likelihood of only one cut jumped seven percentage points to 19% in a single day.



Inflation concerns are fueling this cautious outlook, particularly as China&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/04/45094345/as-chinas-manufacturing-contracts-beijing-releases-defiant-video-calling-us-a-paper-tiger-and-vows-to-never-kneel-to-trumps-trade-war">manufacturing sector contracted</a> following the implementation of new tariffs by President Donald Trump. U.S. banks have already downgraded <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44740040/chinas-growth-outlook-dims-as-trumps-125-tariffs-put-millions-of-jobs-at-risk-goldman-warns">China&#8217;s 2025 growth forecas</a>t, potentially signaling a broader global economic impact from the ongoing trade dispute. Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45187948/skype-is-officially-retiring-today-if-youd-invested-1000-when-microsoft-bought-it-in-2011-heres-what-youd-be-sitting-on-now">Skype Is Officially Retiring Today — If You&#8217;d Invested $1,000 When Microsoft Bought It In 2011, Here&#8217;s What You&#8217;d Be Sitting On Now</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock 



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Asia

Politics

Global

Mohamed El-Erian Expects Fed To Hold Rates, Warns US-China Trade War Impact Will Show In This Key Economic Data

In a significant shift towards Mars-focused endeavors, NASA is set to face a budget cut of $6 billion. The move is in line with the aspirations of SpaceX and its CEO,&nbsp;Elon Musk.



What Happened: The proposed cut by the Trump administration would result in a 25% decrease in NASA&#8217;s funding. The plan also includes a $1 billion investment in Mars-focused programs, reflecting the Trump administration&#8217;s support for space exploration.



NASA&#8217;s acting administrator, Janet Petro, warned in an email to the agency that the reduced budget would necessitate &#8220;tough choices&#8221; and lead to the scaling back or termination of some of NASA&#8217;s activities, according to a recent <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/02/nasa-leader-warns-employees-tough-choices-ahead-with-6-billion-budget-cut-looming.html">CNBC report</a>.



Under the new budget, NASA would retire several programs, including the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the Gateway program. The budget&#8217;s approval would also impact NASA&#8217;s space science, Earth science, and mission support divisions.



The proposed budget includes more than $7 billion for lunar exploration. SpaceX, a key contractor for both NASA and the Department of Defense, has long pursued the goal of sending a crewed mission to Mars. Musk has played a significant role in shaping regulatory reforms via the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).



Despite the looming budget cuts, Petro advised NASA employees to &#8220;persevere, stay&nbsp;resilient, and lean into the&nbsp;discipline it takes to do&nbsp;things that have never been&nbsp;done before.&#8221;



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/media/25/05/45187563/apple-plans-major-iphone-launch-overhaul-with-biannual-release-schedule-starting-2026-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple To Split iPhone Launches Starting 2026, Foldable Model May Debut With iPhone 18 Pro: Report</a>



Why It Matters: The budget cut and shift towards Mars-focused initiatives align with Elon Musk&#8217;s long-standing ambition of space travel. Musk had previously expressed his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44438881/id-like-to-die-on-mars-just-not-on-impact-elon-musk-says-nothing-is-more-exciting-than-space-travel-but-you-might-not-come-back-alive">desire to die</a> on Mars, emphasizing that space travel is the best way to extend the life of humanity.



Furthermore, Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/space/25/04/44730104/trumps-nasa-chief-pick-isaacman-tells-senate-we-will-prioritize-sending-american-astronauts-to-mars">nominee</a> for the next NASA chief, echoed this Mars-focused vision during his Senate confirmation hearing.



However, this ambitious timeline has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44373082/former-nasa-astronaut-predicts-mars-travel-still-15-years-away-not-5-years-as-elon-musk-alludes-to">met with skepticism</a>. Former NASA astronaut José Hernández predicted that human travel to Mars is still &#8220;a good 15 years away,&#8221; contradicting Musk&#8217;s more optimistic timeline of 5 years.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/05/45187216/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-slide-as-traders-turn-cautious-before-fed-meeting-analyst-foresees-btc-correction-to-86000" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide As Traders Turn Cautious Before Fed Meeting: Analyst Foresees BTC &#8216;Correction&#8217; To $86,000 &#8211; Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) Common units of fractional undivided be</a></li>
</ul>



Photo courtesy: Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

NASA Prepares For $6 Billion Budget Cut Amid Shift Towards Elon Musk's Mars-Focused Initiatives

On Friday, May 2nd, U.S. markets closed higher, as strong U.S. jobs data and signs of U.S.-China tariff talks boosted risk appetite. The S&amp;P 500 marked its longest winning streak in over 20 years. While megacap tech stocks cooled, financials and chipmakers outperformed. Treasury yields surged, and European markets closed higher on revived trade hopes.



In economic data, U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose 177,000, beating forecasts and easing tariff worries, while the jobless rate held at 4.2%. March factory orders jumped 4.3% to $618.8 billion.



Most S&amp;P 500 sectors rose Friday, led by financials, communication services, and industrials, while healthcare and consumer staples fell.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.39% to 41,317.43, the S&amp;P 500 gained 1.47% to 5,686.67, while the Nasdaq gained 1.51% to 17,977.73.



Asia Markets Today



<ul>
<li>Japan's market closed for the Children's Day holiday.</li>



<li>On Monday, Australia's S&amp;P/ASX 200 declined 0.97%, ending the session at 8,157.80, which was led by losses in the energy, financials, and telecoms services sectors.</li>



<li>India's Nifty 50 was up 0.48% at 24,463.40, and Nifty 500 rose 0.89% to 22,201.65.</li>



<li>China markets closed for the Labour Day holiday.</li>
</ul>



Eurozone at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 index was down 0.30%.</li>



<li>Germany's DAX index gained 0.60%.</li>



<li>France's CAC 40 slid 0.53%.</li>



<li>The U.K. market closed for the Bank Holiday.</li>
</ul>



Commodities at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading lower by 1.49% at $57.43/bbl, and Brent was down 1.39% at $60.44/bbl.</li>



<li>Oil prices dropped as OPEC+ agreed to accelerate production hikes, raising concerns about oversupply and weakening demand.</li>



<li>Natural Gas gained 1.60% to $3688.</li>



<li>Gold was trading higher by 2.16% at $3,313.89, Silver was up 1.03% to $32.588, and Copper rose 1.63% to $4.7487.</li>
</ul>



U.S. Futures at 05:45 AM ET



Dow futures were down 0.67%, S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.78% and Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.91%.



Forex at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.36% to 99.68, USD/JPY was down 0.72% to 143.91, and USD/AUD declined 0.73% to 1.5404.</li>



<li>The U.S. dollar weakened as the Taiwan dollar surged, fueling Asian currency speculation. Despite strong jobs data, Fed rate cut bets shifted to July, while Europe's currencies edged higher.</li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

Emerging Markets

Eurozone

Commodities

Forex

ADIV

AGOV

ASHR

BBEU

BOIL

CQQQ

EEMA

FLAX

IEMG

IEUR

KDIV

SPEM

USDU

Asia And Europe Markets Mixed, Gold Gains, Oil Slides On OPEC+ Output Hike - Global Markets Today While US Slept

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed some improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index was in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday.



U.S. stocks settled higher on Friday following the release of jobs data, with the S&amp;P 500 recording gains for the ninth consecutive day to notch its longest winning streak since Nov. 2004.



All three major averages recorded gains for the second week, with the S&amp;P 500 adding 2.9% and the Dow gaining 3% on the week. The Nasdaq, meanwhile, closed higher by 3.4% for the week.



On the economic data front, nonfarm payrolls rose by 177,000, beating expectations of 130,000 and easing concerns over tariff-related hiring slowdowns. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2%, as expected. New orders for U.S.-manufactured goods, meanwhile, rose by 4.3% to $618.8 billion in March.



DuPont de Nemours Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DD#NYSE">DD</a>) shares rose on Friday after the company's first-quarter 2025 results topped Wall Street estimates.



Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with financial, communication services, and industrials stocks recording the biggest gains on Friday. However, health care and consumer staples stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.



The Dow Jones closed higher by around 564 points to 41,317.43 on Friday. The S&amp;P 500 gained 1.47% to 5,686.67, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.51% to 17,977.73 during Friday's session.



Investors are awaiting earnings results from Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSN#NYSE">TSN</a>), Cummins Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>), and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) today.



What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?



At a current reading of 42.6, the index was in the &#8220;Fear&#8221; zone on Friday, versus a prior reading of 41.5.



The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.



Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45164497/jim-cramer-this-financial-stock-is-a-buy-likes-exlservice-holdings"> </a>



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45164497/jim-cramer-this-financial-stock-is-a-buy-likes-exlservice-holdings">Jim Cramer: Sunrun Had &#8216;Bad Couple Of Quarters,&#8217; ExlService Holdings Is &#8216;Solid&#8217;</a> </li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

Earnings

Long Ideas

S&P 500 Notches Longest Win Streak In Over 2 Decades: Investor Sentiment Improves, Greed Index In 'Fear' Zone

On Saturday, the ‘Oracle of Omaha's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45184410/warren-buffett-to-step-down-as-berkshire-hathaway-ceo-by-end-of-year-asks-board-to-confirm-greg-abel-as-successor">departure as</a> Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) CEO has triggered an outpouring of admiration from Silicon Valley to Wall Street.



What Happened: Warren Buffett, 94, announced that he plans to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by the end of the year, bringing to a close one of the most celebrated careers in corporate America.



The announcement came during Berkshire's annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.



"I think the time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive of the company at year end," Buffett said, referring to Greg Abel, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45183000/warren-buffetts-right-hand-man-greg-abel-is-quietly-taking-over-day-to-day-leadership-at-berkshire-hathaway-gotten-much-more-involved-in-capital-allocation-decisions">Berkshire's vice chairman</a>, who will take the reins.



Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43900955/berkshire-hathaways-q4-profits-soar-71-warren-buffett-says-his-firm-has-paid-more-taxes-than-tech-titans-in-trillions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berkshire Hathaway Q4 Profits Soar 71%, Buffett Says Firm Pays More Taxes Than ‘Tech Titans&#8217; With Market Value in ‘Trillions&#8217;</a>



His statement was met with a prolonged standing ovation, reportedly lasting up to 10 minutes, from a crowd of thousands who gathered to honor his decades of leadership.



Business leaders and public figures across industries were quick to pay tribute.



"There's never been someone like Warren, and countless people, myself included, have been inspired by his wisdom," Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) CEO Tim Cook wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "It's been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. And there's no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">There's never been someone like Warren, and countless people, myself included, have been inspired by his wisdom. It's been one of the great privileges of my life to know him. And there's no question that Warren is leaving Berkshire in great hands with Greg. <a href="https://t.co/7p5zXtq5hP">pic.twitter.com/7p5zXtq5hP</a>&mdash; Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/1918745258818482382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



CNBC's Mad Money host Jim Cramer praised Buffett as "our only G.O.A.T." and said he was "in awe" of the legendary investor.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">In awe of Buffett and congratulate him on the greatest run of all time. Our only G.O.A.T.&mdash; Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcramer/status/1918752821622514086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



In a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-steps-down-berkshire-hathaway-business-leaders-react-2025-5">statement</a> to Business Insider, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) co-founder Bill Gates called him "one of the greatest CEOs ever" and "hands-down the most successful investor of all time."



Billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shared a more personal memory. "We used to go to DQ in Omaha," he said in an email to BI. "It was the highlight of my year." He also shared a video of Buffett's ovation on X.



Spencer Hakimian, founder of Tolou Capital Management, shared a similar video on X and wrote, "Curtain call for the captain."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Warren Buffett just got a 10 minute long standing ovation after announcing his retirement. Curtain call for the captain. &#x1f979; <a href="https://t.co/RRk4CpgFZh">pic.twitter.com/RRk4CpgFZh</a>&mdash; Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerHakimian/status/1918729831144894824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) CEO Jamie Dimon added to the chorus of praise, saying, "Warren Buffett represents everything that is good about American capitalism and America itself — investing in the growth of our nation and its businesses with integrity, optimism, and common sense. I&#8217;ve learned so much from him to this very day, and I am honored to call him a friend," reported Reuters.



Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43901149/buffett-reflects-on-60-years-at-berkshire-helm-cardinal-sin-is-delaying-the-correction-of-mistakes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buffett Reflects on 60 Years at Berkshire Helm: ‘Cardinal Sin Is Delaying the Correction of Mistakes&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image Credit: Prachaya Roekdeethaweesab / Shutterstock.com

AAPL

MSFT

'Curtain Call For The Captain:' Tim Cook, Bill Gates, Mark Cuban And Other Top Business Leaders React As Warren Buffett Bows Out

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone release strategy, beginning with the iPhone 18 series in 2026.



What Happened: According to three unnamed supply chain sources under the new approach, Apple would release its high-end models, such as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in the fall.&nbsp;The more affordable models like the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Slim and iPhone 18e would follow in the spring of 2027, reported Engadget on Sunday (<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-plans-iphone-release-schedule-shakeup-new-styles">via</a> The Information).



The report also suggests Apple could debut its long-rumored foldable iPhone alongside the Pro models in fall 2026.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44855242/charlie-munger-once-highlighted-how-warren-buffetts-lifelong-learning-made-berkshire-hathaways-success-possible-and-the-crucial-lesson-you-can-take-from-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Charlie Munger Once Said Warren Buffett Is A ‘Learning Machine&#8217; And That&#8217;s What Lies Beneath Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s Success From One Decade To Another</a>



This marks a major departure from Apple's current release strategy, which traditionally sees all new iPhone models unveiled together every September.



While Apple has stuck to a fall release window since the iPhone 5 in 2012, it has shown some signs of schedule flexibility. The iPhone SE line typically debuted in the spring, and Apple released the iPhone 16e <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43903365/apple-ditches-budget-smartphone-segment-with-iphone-16e-launch">in February 2025</a>—possibly as a replacement for the SE range, the report said.



For now, Apple is expected to stick with its traditional four-model launch for the iPhone 17 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44917129/apple-ceo-tim-cook-gets-anxious-over-this-issue-threatening-the-inventory-of-iphone-17-he-is-pushing-suppliers-every-day">series this September</a>.



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



Why It&#8217;s Important: Apple reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/05/45152493/apple-reports-strong-q2-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-installed-base-hits-all-time-high-across-all-segments-100-billion-buyback-and-more">fiscal second-quarter revenue</a> of $95.36 billion, beating Wall Street's estimate of $94.53 billion. Looking ahead to the June quarter, the company expects revenue to grow in the low-to-mid-single-digit range, with a projected gross margin between 45.5% and 46.5%.



iPhone sales came in at $46.84 billion, up from $45.96 billion in the same quarter last year.



During the earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company anticipates a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45179101/apple-ceo-tim-cook-warns-of-900-million-tariff-impact-in-june-quarter-expects-majority-of-iphones-so"> $900 million cost impact</a> from tariffs in the June quarter.



Price Action: Apple shares dropped 3.74% during Friday's regular trading session and slipped another 0.15% in after-hours trading, ending the day at $205.04, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



According to Benzinga Edge's Stock Rankings, Apple holds a growth score of 44.92% and a momentum score of 77.92%. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it stacks up against other leading tech stocks</a>.



Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45126668/apple-lied-under-oath-judge-says-tim-cook-ignored-internal-warnings-in-epic-games-case-fallout-this-is-an-injunction-not-a-negotiation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Apple Executive ‘Outright Lied,' Says Judge In Epic Case Fallout — Tim Cook ‘Chose Poorly'</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with&nbsp;the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Image Via shutterstock

Apple To Split iPhone Launches Starting 2026, Foldable Model May Debut With iPhone 18 Pro: Report

Leading cryptocurrencies dipped on Sunday ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy meeting.



What Happened: Bitcoin experienced sell-offs throughout the evening after peaking at $96,000 in the early morning hours.



Ethereum also slipped below $1,800 overnight, with trading volume rising by more than 6% in the last 24 hours.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>-2.12%</td><td>$93,908.78</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-2.46%</td><td>$1,797.63</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>-3.68%</td><td>$0.1696</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The apex cryptocurrency's market dominance rose to a yearly high of 63.9% on Sunday, while Ethereum's share was 7.4%.



The pullback eroded over $180 million worth of long positions from the market in the last 24 hours. Additionally, Bitcoin&#8217;s Open Interest fell over 3% in the last 24 hours to $62.19 billion.&nbsp;



Over 50% of Binance traders with open BTC positions were positioned short on Bitcoin as of this writing, per the Long/Short Ratio.



The market sentiment turned "Neutral,", according to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index.



Top Gainers (24-Hours)



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 9:30 p.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Flare (FLR)</td><td>+7.93%</td><td>$0.0204</td></tr><tr><td>Core (CORE)</td><td>+6.49%</td><td>$0.7281</td></tr><tr><td>Solayer (LAYER)</td><td>+5.14%</td><td>$3.21</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The global cryptocurrency market capitalization dropped 1.58% to $2.94 trillion in the last 24 hours.



Stock futures inched lower Sunday night. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Futures slid 249 points, or 0.61%, as of 9:31 p.m. EDT.&nbsp; Futures tied to the S&amp;P 500 dipped 0.64%, while Nasdaq 100 Futures lost 0.64%.



Equities have rebounded sharply over the last two weeks, with the S&amp;P 500 recouping all losses since President Donald Trump<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options/25/04/44636496/why-tsem-stock-bounce-back-liberation-day-panic"> imposed sweeping tariffs</a> on trade partners on "Liberation Day."



This week, the market will look forward to the Fed's policy meeting, which begins on Tuesday. Traders have priced in a roughly 97% chance that interest rates will remain at their current 4.25%-4.50% range, <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">according </a>to the CME FedWatch tool data.



See More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-crypto-scanners">Best Cryptocurrency Scanners</a>



Analyst Notes: Cryptocurrency analyst and trader Ali Martinez warned about a potential Bitcoin pullback, citing a "sell signal" by the TD Sequential indicator.



"If Bitcoin were to lose the $94,765 support level, a price correction to $90,000 or even $86,000 could follow," Martinez projected.



Typically, parabolic slope patterns are characterized by a steep, rapid, and exponential rise in price, followed by a sharp decline.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24BTC&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$BTC</a> flashes a sell signal! <a href="https://t.co/97hj7iObdQ">pic.twitter.com/97hj7iObdQ</a>&mdash; Ali (@ali_charts) <a href="https://twitter.com/ali_charts/status/1919127139301114179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Cryptocurrency analyst Michaël van de Poppe noted that Ethereum's valuation has dropped to its lowest since August 2022, the COVID bottom in March 2020 and January 19.



"Forward-looking 12 months after those dates prices were substantially higher. Happy to accumulate ETH," Van de Poppe stated.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The valuation of <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a> is on its lowest point since: &#8211; August &#39;22 &#8211; COVID Bottom March &#39;20 &#8211; January &#39;19 All marked the bottom. Forward-looking 12 months after those dates prices were substantially higher. Happy to accumulate <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24ETH&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$ETH</a>. <a href="https://t.co/yzlP9EzSI2">pic.twitter.com/yzlP9EzSI2</a>&mdash; Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoMichNL/status/1919121602874122726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Read Next:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/05/45186028/arthur-hayes-foresees-bitcoins-leap-to-1-million-says-bitcoin-does-best-when-money-is-printed">Arthur Hayes Foresees Bitcoin&#8217;s Leap To $1 Million, Says Bitcoin Does Best When Money Is Printed</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock

Cryptocurrency

$DOGE

$ETH

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Slide As Traders Turn Cautious Before Fed Meeting: Analyst Foresees BTC 'Correction' To $86,000

As <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45026616/trumps-trade-war-causes-sharp-decline-in-us-imports-from-china">U.S. ports</a> begin to empty and retailers brace for impact, experts warn that we are just beginning to feel the ripple effects of President Donald Trump's new 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. While social media buzz paints an exaggerated picture of ghost ports, the underlying supply chain disruption is very real — and it could soon hit home for American consumers.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Slow Ships, Sudden Shock</h2>



Tariffs don't grind global trade to a halt overnight. Freight ships from China typically take several weeks to reach U.S. ports. But already, the effects of paused or canceled shipments are being seen, particularly at major hubs like the Port of Los Angeles.



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<li>Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/boxabl"> this is your last chance to become an investor for $0.80 per share.</a></li>
</ul>



Gene Seroka, executive director of the port, told <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/29/port-of-las-gene-seroka-on-tariff-impact-retailers-have-about-5-7-weeks-of-full-inventories-left.html">CNBC</a> that shipments from China have "essentially ceased," and the port expects a 35% decline in cargo arriving next week.



Seroka added that large retailers have just five to seven weeks of inventory left before supply issues start to surface. &#8220;Until some accord or framework can be reached with China, the volume coming out of there, save a couple of different commodities, will be very light at best,&#8221; he said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Chain Reaction Through the Economy</h2>



According to <a href="https://fortune.com/article/trump-tariffs-empty-shelves-trucking-ports/">Fortune</a>, the slowdown will unfold in stages. In early May, consumers may begin noticing delays and product shortages. By mid-May, the trucking industry could feel the crunch as fewer goods arrive to be transported — resulting in layoffs. <a href="https://www.apolloacademy.com/probability-of-vtrr-90/">Apollo Global Management</a> forecasts that this could spiral into a full-blown recession by mid-summer.



Products expected to be hit hardest include fast fashion, children's toys, and back-to-school supplies. That's because the U.S. imports much of its apparel and low-cost consumer goods from China, and retail shelves are replenished months in advance.



Trending: How do billionaires pay less in income tax than you?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/tax-deferring-adv"> Tax deferring is their number one strategy</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fact vs. Fiction at the Ports</h2>



Despite widely shared videos showing empty container yards, not all U.S. ports are equally impacted. The <a href="https://www.nwseaportalliance.com/newsroom/nwsa-q1-2025-teu-volumes-19">Northwest Seaport Alliance</a> reports that the Port of Seattle saw a 20% increase in cargo traffic over the first four months of 2025, compared with the same time last year.



Port Commissioner Ryan Calkins acknowledged the threat of tariffs but urged calm. "There is no reason to panic," he said. "We have a diverse global economy." Still, he cautioned that if the tariffs continue, holiday shopping later in the year could be affected, especially for items like clothing and electronics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Retailers and Officials Scramble</h2>



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/04/45037102/walmart-home-depot-target-push-chinese-suppliers-to-resume-shipments-agree-to-absorb-tariffs-report">Major retailers</a> like Walmart (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>), Amazon (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), and Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>) have already tried to front-load shipments ahead of the tariff hike. According to Fortune, this led to record import activity at some ports earlier in the year. But experts warn that these stockpiles are only a temporary buffer. Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, <a href="https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/import-cargo-levels-to-drop-sharply-amid-new-tariffs-and-uncertainty">said</a> that companies "will pull back and rely on built-up inventories, at least long enough to see what will happen next."



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>



Unfortunately, what's next remains unclear. The U.S. and China have offered conflicting reports about the status of trade negotiations. In the meantime, supply chain gaps are growing, cancellations of transpacific shipping routes are increasing, and uncertainty looms large.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Bottom Line</h2>



While viral videos may not always tell the full story, the impact of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45058018/trumps-145-china-tariffs-spark-seller-backlash-as-amazon-prime-day-2025-faces-pullouts-and-discount-cuts-report">Trump's 145% tariffs</a> on China is already rippling through U.S. supply chains. Consumers may not feel the pain immediately, but signs point to a summer of higher prices, fewer choices, and tough decisions for businesses and shoppers alike.



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<li>Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.</li>



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Image: Shutterstock

Personal Finance

Behind The Empty Docks: How Trump's 145% Tariffs Are Gutting U.S. Supply Chains

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