Dow, S&P both fall 2% on new trade fears

U.S. stocks ended the week with deep selloff, leaving them lower for the five days as the White House’s latest trade bluster rattled global financial markets.

The S&P 500 plunged more than 2% and all 30 members of the Dow retreated as President Trump ordered a review of additional tariffs that prompted an aggressive response from China. Fresh attempts by White House officials to tone down the bluster failed to calm nerves, with the CBOE Volatility Index back above 21. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin added to the anxiety by saying there’s a “level of risk” the spat could worsen.

New York Stock Exchange
Pedestrians walk past the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "Caution" tape is seen in New York, U.S., on Monday, May 8, 2017. U.S. stocks slipped from all-time highs, while Europe's common currency weakened following a convincing defeat of populism in France's presidential election that investors had already priced in. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

Trump said the market turmoil was short-term “ pain,” but insisted the outcome would leave the U.S. in a better position. The president’s top economic adviser said the U.S. and China are holding “back-channel discussions” to resolve an escalating trade dispute that has unsettled global financial markets. China earlier said no talks were ongoing.

The trade tensions overshadowed the latest U.S. jobs report, which showed hiring cooled by more than forecast in March. The renewed saber rattling provided a bookend to a week that started with equities tumbling amid amplified rhetoric. That gave way to a three-day rally after White House officials signaled the president’s tough talk was part of a negotiating plan.

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“It’s bad when this happens on a Friday, because then people get freaked out over the weekend,” Donald Selkin, New York-based chief market strategist at Newbridge Securities, said. “The worst thing you want to see is a bad market late on a Friday.”

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Stocks Markets and indexes Equity market Equities Volatility Donald Trump Steven Mnuchin S&P Treasury Department
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