Dow, S&P 500 Post Best Week Since 2023 Amid Turbulent Tariff-Fueled Markets

Three major U.S. stock indices roared back to life this week, posting their strongest gains in months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 619 points to close at 40,213, while the S&P 500 climbed 95 points to finish at 5,363. Not to be outdone, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite surged 337 points, recording a remarkable 2.1% gain. Talk about a comeback story.

The weekly numbers tell an even more impressive tale. The S&P 500 notched a 6% weekly gain—its biggest since November 2023. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq outperformed everyone with a whopping 7% increase, marking its best performance since November 2022.

Stock markets on fire! S&P 500 jumps 6%, Nasdaq rockets 7%—best performances we’ve seen in over a year.

Wednesday was particularly wild, with the S&P 500 skyrocketing 9% in a single day. Haven’t seen that kind of action since 2008.

Of course, the ride wasn’t exactly smooth. Investors got whiplash from the ongoing trade drama between the U.S. and China. American tariffs reaching as high as 145% on Chinese imports? China’s retaliatory 125% tariffs on American goods? Yeah, that’ll rattle some nerves.

The market swung dramatically day-to-day as traders tried to make sense of it all. The bond market wasn’t exactly calm either. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.5%, signaling higher borrowing costs ahead. Meanwhile, the dollar weakened, with the index dropping below 100. Gold prices? Through the roof. Classic panic behavior.

Tech stocks led the charge higher, seemingly unfazed by potential trade disruptions. Industrial sectors looked more nervous, for obvious reasons. Who wants their supply chains messed with? Financial stocks got a boost from those rising Treasury yields—banks love higher interest rates. They just do.

Analysts couldn’t stop using the word “rollercoaster” to describe the week. Fair enough. One day you’re plummeting, the next you’re soaring. Market volatility at its finest, folks.

Despite the impressive weekly gains, uncertainty looms large. These tariff issues aren’t going away overnight. Economists are already warning about potential impacts on U.S. growth. The inflation cooling in March provided some relief but couldn’t entirely erase market concerns. Monday’s session was particularly nerve-wracking as hedge fund manager Bill Ackman warned of an economic nuclear war due to escalating trade tensions. The Dow has made history by topping 44,000 for the first time, marking a significant milestone in this ongoing bull market. Investors remain anxious about the administration’s tariff policy changes that won’t be fully revealed until April 2. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon added to concerns by warning of considerable global turbulence ahead. Nobody knows if this rally has staying power or if it’s just a brief respite in a longer storm.

For now, though, Wall Street’s celebrating. Best week in months? They’ll take it. Tomorrow’s problems can wait until Monday.