_edited_edited.png)
Friday Afternoon Coffee - Markets Update - 11 Apr 2025 - Markets Steady as China Retaliates on Tariffs; Gold Hits Record High
- The Trade Academy Team
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
Markets Update: U.S. stocks edged up on Friday during a turbulent session as investors prepared for additional repercussions from the U.S.-China trade dispute. Meanwhile, gold reached another record high, and Treasury yields continued their sharp weekly rise.
Global Markets Roundup: 11 Apr 2025
Markets concluded a turbulent week with heightened tension after China increased tariffs on U.S. goods to 125% in response to President Donald Trump's extensive tariffs implemented earlier this month. Although there were slight gains in equities, traders remained wary due to ongoing recession concerns and instability in the bond market.
Stocks Edge Higher Amid Lingering Trade Worries
U.S. equity benchmarks posted small gains in choppy trading, with technology stocks leading the S&P 500 higher as earnings season kicked off with strong results from major banks.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: +67.71 points (+0.14%) to 39,647.37
S&P 500: +14.71 points (+0.28%) to 5,282.76
Nasdaq Composite: +75.17 points (+0.44%) to 16,458.73
Treasuries Fall, Yields Surge
A fresh wave of bond selling pushed 10-year U.S. Treasury yields to 4.535%, capping their biggest weekly gain in over four decades. Analysts cited margin calls and hedge fund liquidations as drivers of the rout, even as solid auctions earlier in the week offered some support.
The growing spread between U.S. Treasuries and German Bunds—now widening at its fastest pace since the 1990s—underscored rising investor anxiety about the U.S. fiscal outlook.
Gold Soars Past $3,200
Gold surged as safe-haven demand remained strong. Spot prices hit a record $3,237.56, settling at $3,230.75, up 1.8% on the day and more than 6% for the week.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar weakened, reflecting doubts over trade stability and softer-than-expected inflation data:
Oil Flatlines, Commodities Mixed
Crude prices held steady as the trade war stoked concerns about weakening global demand:
WTI Crude (CL1!): -$0.04 to $60.03/barrel
Brent Crude (BRN1!): -$0.03 to $63.30/barrel
Cotton prices dipped below 66 cents per pound but still logged a weekly gain of more than 4%. Arabica coffee bounced back above $3.55/lb, hitting a one-week high, while cocoa futures jumped past $8,400/tonne amid supply concerns.
Top cocoa exporter Ivory Coast warned it may raise prices if the U.S. proceeds with a proposed 21% tariff on its exports.
Grains Hold Gains
Corn (ZC1!): +0.36% to $4.84¾/bushel, touching a six-week high
Soybeans (ZS1!): +0.02% to $10.29¼/bushel
Wheat (ZW1!): +1.63% to $5.46¾/bushel
Outlook
With China's confirmed retaliation, markets are encountering new uncertainty as they approach next week. Investors will keep an eye on trade talk developments and seek more clarity from corporate earnings, especially from sectors most vulnerable to tariff risks.
Looking forward, refer to the economic calendar below to see the upcoming events scheduled for today and the rest of the week.
General news - Information source from multiple newswires.
The article and the data is for general information use only, not advice!
The Trade Academy Team