From Panic to Power Plays: How Markets Flipped the Script This Week

Trump, Tariffs, Tesla, and Tech — Why the Real Fireworks Might Be Just Getting Started

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Market Mastery Digest
April 28, 2025

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Wall Street Weathered the Storm — But Bigger Moves Are Brewing

Hi there, Market Mastery crew! 👋

Here we go again — another week of wild ride for the U.S. markets.

Starting with a deep plunge as political fireworks shook Wall Street, only to see a sharp rebound when cooler heads prevailed.

We’ve got it all covered for you today: the drama between Trump and Powell, the market’s love-hate relationship with tariffs, and the cautious optimism heading into next week.


A lot to cover, let’s dive in!

The week kicked off with a nasty selloff on Monday, after President Trump turned his fire on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, calling him a “major loser” in a very public attack.

Traders immediately feared for the Fed's independence, and markets responded with a brutal selloff: the Dow plunged over 3%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq weren't far behind.

Investors were also rattled by stalled trade talks and the looming threat of tariffs, sending a clear message — political drama is bad for business.

But just when it looked like markets were heading for a full-on meltdown, Tuesday brought a surprising turnaround.

Trump appeared to walk back his comments, saying he had no plans to fire Powell after all.

That was enough to calm some nerves.

Investors shifted their attention to corporate earnings, and stocks rebounded sharply.

Earnings optimism and hopes of a cooling-off in the U.S.-China trade tensions gave markets the fuel they needed to rally.

Midweek brought further gains as President Trump suggested that tariffs on Chinese goods could be "substantially reduced" if a trade agreement was reached.

This statement fueled investor optimism, propelling the S&P 500 to its largest daily gain in two weeks, with tech stocks leading the charge.

The market's enthusiasm highlighted its sensitivity to trade developments.

Tesla's first-quarter earnings report presented a complex picture.

The company reported a 71% drop in net income and a 9% decline in revenue, with automotive revenue falling 20% year-over-year.

Tesla’s latest earnings were a gut punch — net income plunged 71%, and revenue slipped 9%, missing Wall Street’s expectations by a mile.

Even Elon Musk admitted his political ties (yep, hanging out with Trump) might've hurt Tesla’s brand.

To fix it, Musk promised to step back from politics and double down on Tesla's mission.

He also teased big plans: robotaxis hitting Austin streets by June and a new affordable EV in the works.

Despite the ugly numbers, Tesla’s stock jumped over 4% after hours — investors seem ready to believe in Musk’s comeback story.

Thursday brought more cautious gains.

Despite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning about the dangers of prolonged trade tensions, investors kept buying, especially in tech stocks.

The dollar slipped a little after its recent run, and overall, markets showed they were more interested in potential opportunities than ongoing risks.

Finally, Friday closed the week on a more positive note.

Major indexes edged higher again, and the dollar posted its first weekly gain in over a month, hinting that some confidence was returning to the markets.

Still, not all was rosy — U.S. consumer sentiment weakened for the fourth straight month, as people remained worried about the fallout from tariffs and what it could mean for their wallets.

In short?

Markets still have a twitchy trigger finger — but for now, they’re breathing a little easier.

Alphabet crushed it this quarter — revenue jumped 12% to $90.2 billion, and profits skyrocketed 46% to $34.5 billion.

The cloud business was on fire too, growing 28%, while margins nearly doubled.

CEO Sundar Pichai gave credit to their AI push, especially the new Gemini 2.5 model.

To sweeten the deal, Alphabet boosted its dividend by 5% and launched a massive $70 billion stock buyback.

No surprise — the stock popped over 5% after hours, with investors loving the momentum.

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Looking ahead to next week, things aren't slowing down.

Big Tech’s Big Reveal

Earnings season isn't over yet — and next week, all eyes are on the tech giants.

Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon are set to report, and the results could either keep the rally alive or trigger some fresh turbulence.

When these titans move, the market listens.

Inflation Checkpoint

The Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, is scheduled for release on April 30.

This report will provide insights into consumer spending and inflation trends, crucial for anticipating future monetary policy moves.

Presidential Milestone

April 29 marks President Donald Trump's 100th day in his second term.

His administration has enacted significant policy changes, including sweeping tariffs and executive orders.

To commemorate this milestone, Trump will host a rally in Macomb County, Michigan, highlighting his achievements and outlining future plans.

Jobs Checkpoint

Friday will bring the latest jobs report.

A strong number could boost confidence that the economy is still humming along.

A weak report?

That could stoke fresh recession fears.

Either way, it's a major catalyst to watch.

Manufacturing Pulse

The ISM Manufacturing Index drops next week too.

It’s a key read on whether American factories are still grinding forward — or if higher costs and weaker demand are starting to bite.

With stagflation whispers getting louder, this report could pack a punch.

What a ride, huh?

This week reminded us again — markets don’t move in straight lines.

They dance to the tune of politics, earnings, inflation fears… and sometimes, just plain old investor emotion.

And guess what?

With Big Tech earnings, a key inflation report, and Trump's 100th day celebration all coming up, next week promises even more fireworks.

Stay sharp, stay light on your feet, and remember — in a world full of noise, it’s the calm, focused investor who wins the long game.

Catch you next week 🚀