Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The stock market is much improved from earlier, but still feeling the hurt from being punched in the tariff gut. That hurt is most evident in the information technology (-1.9%) and consumer discretionary (-1.3%) sectors, which house many companies that will/could get caught in the crosshairs of a trade war.

The uncertainty as to whether President Trump's tariff actions are intended to be a negotiating tactic or a permanent feature has arguably impeded a full recovery effort today. Then again, while Mexico was granted a one-month reprieve (but nothing more so far), Canada and China were not -- at least not to this point. In fact, President Trump said the 10% tariff for China is an opening salvo and could go higher if they can't make a deal. He is reportedly scheduled to speak (again) to Canadian Prime Minster Trudeau at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Looking within the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Apple (AAPL 226.77, -9.23, -3.9%), NVIDIA (NVDA 115.85, -4.22, -3.5%), Caterpillar (CAT 362.02, -9.42, -2.5%), and Nike (NKE 75.93, -0.97, -1.3%) are today's biggest percentage losers.

Verizon (VZ 40.04, +0.65, +1.4%) and UnitedHealth Group (UNH 550.71, +8.22, +1.5%), which are U.S.-centric companies, are the best-performing components.