Marketplace

Stocks aren’t the only assets in the financial markets that were beat up this week by President Trump’s tariffs. Bonds suffered too. After 3-year Treasury yields rose in the face of disappointing demand, bond investors are scrutinizing Treasury auctions for signs of further weakness. Also in this episode: Trump's anti-DEI push could hurt minority contractors, Atlanta Fed chief Raphael Bostic counsels caution and a millennial in Texas dreams of becoming a homeowner.

We’ve said it more than once lately: This economy is defined by uncertainty. And as President Trump makes aggressive, if erratic, moves on trade and federal funding, firms and organizations are taking action to protect their interests. In this episode, some universities issue bonds ahead of federal funding cuts and some companies retract their investor guidance for 2025. Plus: Tariffs can’t reshore every sector of manufacturing and we launch a series documenting the consumer economy, focused on the views and experiences of people.

The issuance of corporate bonds has slowed to a crawl, thanks to all that uncertainty in the economy. And without raising money in the bond market, firms may pull back on long-term investments. Also in this episode: The Democratic Republic of the Congo extends its ban on cobalt exports to raise prices, strains in the bar and restaurant business lead to closures and we answer listener questions on trade policy.

Care for a glass of Chianti or Bordeaux after recent market volatility? It’ll cost ya. After a tense few weeks, President Donald Trump announced a 20% tariff on all EU goods, including wine. While you might think that U.S. producers would be cheering, domestic wineries and wine shops are worried. Plus, there’s an ongoing tug-of-war in the bond market, and there’s a rally on Capitol Hill today over cuts to humanitarian aid.

Overseas stock markets and U.S. stock index futures are showing an upward move in prices today, and volatility is down in sharp contrast to yesterday morning. Yesterday’s rollercoaster ride resulted from false information about a potential tariff pause. Some $2.5 trillion went in and out of stocks, according to the Wall Street Journal — all in about a half hour. Also, U.S.-China trade tensions are escalating, and low oil prices may thwart Trump’s domestic oil production goals.

From the BBC World Service: In a push toward a full-blown global trade war, China has reacted strongly to President Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on its exports to more than 100%, saying it would “fight until the end.” Meanwhile, markets in Asia and Europe are more stable after a few rocky days. Plus, how are businesses across the world dealing with uncertainties wrought by the onslaught of fresh tariffs?

Import levies on Chinese goods amount to 54% right now. But some things that China excels at producing will likely remain in China. In this episode, why shoemaking can’t up and leave anytime soon. Plus: Copper prices ballooned and tanked in the past few weeks, European carmakers weigh their options in the trade war and recession fears, not inflation fears, are driving bond yields.

Major indexes on Wall Street are highly volatile this morning after conflicting messages from the Trump administration over global tariffs. At first, there appeared to be word of a potential tariff pause under consideration at the White House; that sent stocks briefly skyrocketing. Then, another report came that contradicted the first, and stocks plunged again. Plus, with stocks tumbling, money has been pouring into safer alternatives like money market funds and CDs.

President Donald Trump told reporters last night that he doesn’t want stocks to go down but that “sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something.” A key matter is whether 10% across-the-board tariffs — and country-specific ones as high as 49% — are permanent, considering the global market meltdown. The big jumps kick midweek. Also on the program: an interrogation of Americans’ debt and the weight of carrying debt in old age.

From the BBC World Service: Stock markets across Asia, Europe and Australia have continued to plummet as the shockwaves from President Donald Trump’s tariffs reverberate around the world. Markets were in the red, and no sectors were spared in Asia’s major sell-off. Plus, European trade ministers are meeting to work out a response to the new duties imposed by the U.S. Will they opt for retaliatory tariffs?

Tariff-driven inflation will hit Americans with the lowest incomes the hardest, slashing their disposable income by at least $1,700 a year, the Yale Budget Lab predicts. We’ll explain why. And the labor market could suffer too if demand falls for all those higher-priced products. Plus, New Mexico allocates oil and gas revenue to child care programs, and in booming West Texas, some residents struggle to access running water.

Because it probably won’t look pretty. The stock market plummeted again this morning on news that China is putting hefty new tariffs on American goods — 34% to be exact. In other data news, unemployment unexpectedly ticked up, and job gains were relatively uninspiring. We’ll unpack. Then, we’ll hear what tariffs mean for cheap clothing and glean tips from car buyers at a used car auction as part of our Tricks of the Trade series.

Jeep and RAM’s parent company Stellantis announced at least temporary layoffs as it shifts strategy in light of new tariffs. The Wall Street Journal says Volkswagen plans to put an import fee line onto car sticker prices. Yet tariffs are winning tentative support from the United Auto Workers Union, who hopes that tariffs bring more production back to American union plants. Plus, commodity prices drop, and VC dollars flow to AI startups.

From the BBC World Service: Asian and European markets have fallen further as global markets continue to process the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Also on the show, the CEO of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly reflects on tariffs and the CEO of Microsoft says humans need to be involved in AI decisions that impact our lives. Plus, we hear how car buyers can snap up ex-rental bargains at auction.

Uncertainty about tariffs and trade policy has been top of mind since President Donald Trump’s election in November. We finally know how high those tariffs will be (between 10% and 54%) and to which countries they’ll apply (almost all of them). Now, a key question is: How much will prices rise? In this episode, business owners prep for the costs and some economists predict an economic downturn. Plus: The administration wants the IRS to share undocumented immigrants’ protected information with Homeland Security.

KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk offers a bleak prognosis for the economy after President Donald Trump’s across-the-board tariffs. The risk of a recession has gone up, she says, as has the risk for stagflation. And the job of the Federal Reserve just got much harder. We’ll also learn how the cost of those tariffs will be passed onto consumers and hear a conservative take on tariffs and industry reshoring.

34%. 32%. 24%. 20%. Those are the additional tariff rates on — in order — China, Taiwan, Japan and Europe that President Donald Trump has imposed. Stock markets are down hard. This morning, we’ll parse how key U.S. trade partners are responding to new duties on goods and hear what all this means for everyday consumers. Also on the show: Why haven’t higher interest rates slowed the job market?

From the BBC World Service: With tariffs imposed by the U.S. on economies across the globe, we’re gathering reactions from some of the countries affected. China is vowing to fight back while Europe is collectively mulling over how to respond. Some of the world’s poorest countries will be hit hardest — Cambodia and Laos among them. But there could also be opportunities as trading strategies shift and new partnerships emerge.

Corporate dealmakers hoped merger and acquisition ventures would heat up this year. But the first quarter of 2025 saw the slowest M&A activity in more than a decade, according to Dealogic. In this episode, why firms aren’t shelling out billions to buy another company in this economy. Plus: Nintendo announces a new Switch console, Gen Z suffers in a low-hire, low-fire job market, and a new study shows nonwhite bankruptcy filers face a lower likelihood of debt relief.

Carmakers say sales soared last month as buyers snapped up vehicles in attempts to get ahead of the tariffs President Donald Trump is set to announce later today. Vehicle sales could fall after tariffs are implemented and car prices surge. Plus, U.S. businesses went on a hiring spree in March. How exactly can jobs affect interest rates? We’ll discuss. Then, we’ll look at how London’s millennium-old Borough Market has evolved to serve modern tastes.