US pre-open: Futures lower ahead of 'Liberation Day' tariffs
By Iain Gilbert
Date: Monday 31 Mar 2025
(Sharecast News) - Wall Street futures were in the red ahead of the bell on Monday as market participants patiently await clarity on Donald Trump's planned tariff measures.
As of 1300 BST, Dow Jones futures were down 0.64%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 futures had the indices opening 0.96% and 1.33% weaker, respectively.
The Dow closed 715.80 points lower on Friday as traders braced for Trump's new 25% auto levy to come into effect on Wednesday, which he has branded "Liberation Day".
Trump did little to quell fears over the weekend, with the US president reportedly pushing his advisors to be even more aggressive with their tariff plans, according to the Wall Street Journal. Trump also said he "couldn't care less" if foreign automakers raised prices as a result of his new tariffs. He also stated the levies would take aim at all countries, as opposed to just those with a trade imbalance with the US.
Trade Nation's David Morrison said: "US stock index futures were down sharply in early trade this morning. The weakness follows on from Friday's session which saw a significant sell-off. Tech stocks led Friday's decline with the NASDAQ down 2.7%. But all the majors struggled, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 1.7%, 2.0% and 2.1% respectively. Equities had a strong start to last week as investors rushed to 'buy the dip' following some encouraging tariff talk from President Trump. But by Wednesday the rally had run out of steam."
On the macro front, the Chicago Federal Reserve's March purchasing managers' index will be published at 1445 BST, while the Dallas Fed's March manufacturing business index will follow at 1530 BST.
No major corporate earnings were slated for release on Monday.
Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN