216: The 90-Day U.S. Tariff Pause - How Should Investors Respond Right Now? [April 15th]

On April 9th, the U.S. administration announced a 90-day tariff pause on country-specific reciprocal tariffs, exempting key tech imports while maintaining high tariffs on select Chinese goods. This decision introduced extraordinary volatility to global markets. Notably, the S&P 500 rebounded nearly 6% last week, marking one of its largest daily jumps in history. Meanwhile, long-term U.S. Treasury yields spiked, reflecting investors' altered risk perceptions in light of the tariff adjustments. At the same time, the U.S. dollar tumbled to three-year lows against major currencies, highlighting concerns about future currency valuations in these tumultuous times. But the question remains, how should investors respond when considering the implications of prolonged uncertainty, including potential recession risks, impacts on corporate investment, and consumer spending?

In this episode of The Bid, Oscar Pulido is joined by Alex Brazier, Global Head of Investment & Portfolio Solutions and Helen Jewell, Chief Investment Officer for EMEA at BlackRock. Alex and Helen will help us unpack the details of this tariff pause, its effects on market dynamics, and provide strategic insights for investors considering how to navigate volatile markets.

NOTE: This episode was recorded and published on April 15th 2025

Check out the full series covering tariffs and market volatility on The Bid: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3iiZbbNz3eI08zXGZ4n3LI?si=TNiOrYRoSxyXVsbwsBs68Q

Key moments:

00:00 Introduction to the Tariff Pause, Market Reactions and Volatility

02:45 Discuss Historic Market Movements

06:48 Equity Market Reactions

09:13 Portfolio Strategies in Uncertain Times

12:20 Investor Questions

14:12 Looking Ahead: What Are Experts Looking For?

18:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to the names of each company mentioned in this communication is merely for explaining the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or investment recommendation of those companies. In the UK and Non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorised and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures go to Blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures

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