S&P 500 gives up gain, Dow falls as White House says tariffs starting Saturday: Live updates

The sentiment in U.S. tech stocks remains supportive with positive earnings reports. Despite volatility triggered by DeepSeek, major tech companies have shown strong fundamentals. This bodes well for investments in technology-focused ETFs, as they are likely to attract more capital going forward, enhancing their performance.

The tariffs imposed by the U.S. government on major trading partners negatively impact automakers such as Ford and General Motors. As costs rise, this could lead to reduced margins and profit forecasts, making them less attractive to investors.

Despite the historical weakness associated with the Year of the Snake, the long-term sentiment in U.S. equities remains somewhat resilient. This creates a challenging environment for dividend stocks and slow-growth equities, evidenced by the decline in stocks like Walgreens which suspended its dividend.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has benefited significantly from FDA approvals, driving its stock up. This company appears well-positioned for further growth and investor interest, particularly as it introduces innovative pain relief solutions.

Barclays noted low equity risk premiums, which may pressurize stocks with low growth prospects and attract funds towards safer asset classes, indicating a potential for downturn in certain sectors of the equity market.