Wall Street Lunch: White House Scolds Amazon

Economic Overview - The U.S. trade deficit increased to $162 billion in March from $147.8 billion the previous month, significantly exceeding the estimate of -$145 billion, marking a 65% increase since October [10] - Imports rose by 5.0% to $343 billion, driven by a 27.5% increase in consumer goods, while exports increased by 1.2% to $181 billion, led by industrial supplies, autos, and food [10] - The decline in consumer confidence continued, with the Conference Board's measure dropping to 86 in April from 93.9, marking the fifth consecutive month of declines [11] Company Responses to Tariffs - Amazon faced backlash from the White House for allegedly planning to list tariff costs on products, which it denied, stating that such a consideration was never made for its main site [4][8] - Honeywell reported earnings that exceeded expectations and raised its full-year profit forecast, while acknowledging the unpredictable impact of tariffs [13] - Coca-Cola's performance reassured analysts, contrasting with many peers in the consumer staples sector [14] Market Sentiment and Predictions - Pantheon Macro economist Oliver Allen revised Q1 GDP growth expectations down to -1% due to the impact of tariffs and trade dynamics [10] - Moody's Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi indicated that consumer sentiment is nearing recession levels, with a significant drop in the index over the past three months [12] - Morgan Stanley strategist Mike Wilson emphasized the need for tariff relief and other catalysts for sustained market growth, advocating for quality stocks with resilient earnings profiles [18] Notable Partnerships and Developments - Hims & Hers Health announced a partnership with Novo Nordisk to sell the weight loss therapy Wegovy, marking a significant development for the company amid shareholder scrutiny [17] - JetBlue is evaluating measures to boost profitability in light of macroeconomic uncertainty, including capacity reductions and cost savings [16] Earnings Guidance Adjustments - General Motors pulled its 2025 outlook and halted its share buyback program due to the impact of tariffs on its original guidance [14][15] - UPS management indicated that full-year expectations would remain if market conditions stabilize, highlighting the uncertainty stemming from recent updates from the White House and Beijing [15]