US Stock Futures Drift Lower Amid Anticipation of Key Tariff Announcements

Early Monday saw a decline in U.S. stock futures as traders eagerly awaited “Liberation Day” for definitive updates on President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy. Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 178 points, or 0.43%. Simultaneously, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures experienced declines of 0.66% and 1.08%, respectively.

A variety of tariffs, set to be implemented by the Trump administration, are scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, heralded by the president as “Liberation Day.” Among these is a significant 25% tariff on “all cars not manufactured in the United States.” Additionally, Trump is anticipated to unveil his strategy for reciprocal tariffs. The persistent uncertainty surrounding these tariffs has been a cloud over the stock market, causing shares to tumble once more on Friday as the final full trading week of March concluded.

Over the weekend, Trump’s actions did little to calm market apprehensions, as The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that he had recently urged his advisors to adopt a more aggressive stance on tariffs. Meanwhile, investors are keenly anticipating a substantial batch of economic data this week, with the spotlight on the March jobs report, slated for release at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, April 4.