Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-04-21 15:11Economic Overview - The U.S. economy is experiencing backlash from "reciprocal tariffs," leading to concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve, resulting in a significant drop in the stock market [1] - Major U.S. stock indices, including the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones, have all fallen over 2% [1] - The latest data shows a decline in the Conference Board's leading economic index for March, recording a -0.7% change, the largest drop since October 2023 [8] Energy Sector - WTI crude oil futures dropped over 3%, currently priced at $62.28 per barrel, while Brent crude fell below $65 per barrel [3][4] - The energy market is reflecting a broader trend of declining prices, with NYMEX WTI down 2.70% and ICE Brent down 2.68% [4] Technology Sector - Major U.S. tech stocks, including Tesla and Nvidia, have seen significant declines, with Tesla down nearly 7% and Nvidia down over 5% [4][5] - The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index has also dropped over 1%, with companies like Meituan and JD.com falling more than 4% [5][6] Federal Reserve and Interest Rates - President Trump has called for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, suggesting that economic growth may slow unless this occurs [9] - Citigroup predicts the Federal Reserve will implement its next rate cut in June, maintaining a forecast of a 125 basis point cut by 2025 [7] - Federal Reserve officials have indicated that while short-term inflation expectations are rising, long-term expectations remain stable, suggesting lower rates in the next 12-18 months [10] Currency Market - The U.S. dollar index has faced a significant drop, falling over 1% to a near three-year low, attributed to pressures surrounding Federal Reserve Chairman Powell [11]