Wall Street Ends Week Lower Ahead of U.S.-China Talks

Wall Street’s main indexes closed little changed on Friday, reflecting investor caution ahead of key U.S.-China trade negotiations set for the weekend in Switzerland. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.29% to 41,249.38, the S&P 500 edged down 0.07% to 5,659.91, and the Nasdaq Composite held steady at 17,928.92. For the week, the Dow lost 0.16%, the S&P 500 fell 0.47%, and the Nasdaq declined 0.27%. Ahead of a high-stakes meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials this weekend, President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of an 80% tariff on Chinese goods in a social media post—cooling some optimism over a breakthrough in the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies. In the post, Trump stated: “An 80% tariff on China sounds about right! Up to Scott B.” —referring to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. It remains unclear whether Trump is proposing the 80% tariff as a long-term measure, a temporary reduction from the current 145% rate, or if he is delegating authority to Bessent to negotiate lower tariffs with China. While an 80% tariff would represent a significant cut from the current level, it would still constitute a substantial barrier to trade. Investors are watching for progress toward de-escalation in global trade tensions. A preliminary U.S.-UK trade deal and India’s offer to narrow tariff gaps also lifted sentiment, but gains were limited. Top Gainers: Regencell (+76%), Lyft (+28.8%), Rumble (+23.1%), Trans Medical (+22.3%), Insulet (+20.7%) Top Losers: Onto Innovation (-29.7%), Globus Medical (-24.5%), Compass (-18.2%), Affirm (-15%), Global Star (-12.5%)