The planet's 10 richest people saw their collective wealth shrink by nearly $70 billion on Friday. Markets roiled after Trump threatened an extra 100% tariff on Chinese goods, then said, "Don't worry." Elon Musk took a $16 billion blow, while Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg each took $10 billion hits. The world's 10 richest people lost nearly $70 billion on Friday as fresh fears of a global trade war rattled markets. The value of their stock holdings tumbled after President Donald Trump said the US ...

Market Performance - US stocks have reached record highs this year, with the S&P 500 Index adding $15 trillion in market value since early April and achieving 27 records in 2025, reflecting a 34% gain over the last five months, primarily driven by Big Tech shares [2][3] - The Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts have contributed to a high risk appetite among investors, although there are concerns that the market may have already priced in positive developments, which could lead to stock underperformance if economic growth slows [3][4] Economic Indicators - FedEx Corp. has indicated a potential $1 billion impact from trade volatility and the loss of a key exemption for low-value goods, highlighting the ongoing effects of the global trade war on companies [5] - Economists predict that real US GDP growth will decelerate to 1.5% on an annualized basis in the third quarter, a significant drop from the 3.3% growth reported in the second quarter [6] Investment Sentiment - Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence suggest that the current economic environment, characterized by middling growth, may present buying opportunities for stocks, as historical trends indicate that such conditions can lead to favorable market performance [7]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Mining – Gold industry is part of the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector, which is expected to see a decline in earnings for the second quarter, with overall earnings projected to fall by 7.5% despite a 2.8% increase in revenues [1] Gold Prices and Market Dynamics - Gold prices have increased significantly this year, rising approximately 29% year to date, driven by global trade tensions and safe-haven demand [3] - On April 22, gold prices reached a record high of $3,500 per ounce, and while they retreated, they closed the second quarter above $3,300 per ounce, marking a nearly 6% increase in the quarter [4] Company Performance Expectations - Gold mining companies are expected to benefit from higher gold prices and efforts to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs in their second-quarter results [2] - Despite higher mining costs due to inflationary pressures, companies are focused on reducing operational costs and improving efficiency, which is anticipated to support their margins [5] Selected Companies and Earnings Estimates - Barrick Mining Corporation is expected to report earnings of 47 cents per share, with an Earnings ESP of +1.14% and a Zacks Rank 1, having beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters [9] - Franco-Nevada Corporation has an Earnings ESP of +0.91% and a Zacks Rank 3, with a consensus estimate of $1.10 for second-quarter earnings, benefiting from increased contributions from streaming agreements [11] - Integra Resources Corp. has an Earnings ESP of +4.76% and a Zacks Rank 3, with a consensus estimate of 7 cents for second-quarter earnings, expected to benefit from strong production at the Florida Canyon mine [13]

Core Viewpoint - Harley-Davidson has suspended its full-year financial forecast for 2025 due to uncertainties surrounding global tariffs and macroeconomic conditions [1][3]. Financial Performance - The company reported a 21% decline in global motorcycle sales compared to the previous year, attributed to a volatile macroeconomic environment and consumer uncertainty [3]. - Retail sales in the US were softer than expected, with motorcycle shipments dropping to 24,865 in Q1 from 41,577 in the same period last year [4]. - Revenue fell by 23% in the first quarter to $1.33 billion compared to the previous year [4]. Tariff Impact - Harley-Davidson estimates its tariff bill could reach $175 million this year, primarily due to imports from China facing a 145% tariff, despite most suppliers being based in the US [1][8]. Strategic Focus - The company is concentrating on cost productivity measures, supply chain mitigation, controlling operating expenses, and reducing dealer inventory, as stated by CEO Jochen Zeitz [4]. Market Reaction - Shares in Harley-Davidson increased by 3.4% around midday [5]. Economic Context - Recent data indicated that the US economy unexpectedly shrank as companies rushed to import goods ahead of tariffs, while consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level since October 2011 [6]. Leadership Changes - Harley-Davidson is searching for a new CEO as Jochen Zeitz plans to retire [6]. - Investment firm H Partners is attempting to remove Zeitz and two other directors from the board, citing poor performance and cultural issues [7].

Industry Overview - The Zacks Mining – Gold industry is part of the broader Zacks Basic Materials sector, which is expected to see a significant decline in earnings for Q1, projected to fall by 17.8% with a 0.7% decrease in revenues [1] - Gold prices have surged approximately 27% year-to-date, driven by global trade tensions and increased safe-haven demand [3] - Gold reached a record high of $3,500 per ounce on April 22, with a nearly 19% increase in the first quarter [4] Company Performance - Gold mining companies are anticipated to benefit from higher gold prices and improved operational efficiency, despite facing inflationary pressures on input costs [2][5] - Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) is expected to report earnings of 22 cents, with an Earnings ESP of +11.07% and a Zacks Rank 2, having surpassed estimates in three of the last four quarters [8][9] - Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (SAND) is projected to report earnings of 5 cents, with an Earnings ESP of +6.67% and a Zacks Rank 2, although it has missed estimates in three of the last four quarters [11][12] - IAMGOLD Corporation (IAG) is expected to report earnings of 10 cents, with an Earnings ESP of +9.69% and a Zacks Rank 3, having beaten estimates in three of the last four quarters [13][14] Strategic Actions - Gold miners are focusing on reducing operational costs, improving efficiency, and concentrating on high-grade assets to support margins amid rising costs [5] - Companies are also working on paying down debt and eliminating non-core assets to enhance financial stability [5]

Core Viewpoint - Analyst Craig Moffett believes that Apple's plans to shift iPhone assembly to India are unrealistic and will not effectively address the cost issues related to tariffs [1][2][3]. Group 1: Supply Chain and Production - Moffett questions the feasibility of diversifying Apple's supply chain to India, stating that the supply chain would still be heavily reliant on China, which could face resistance [2][3]. - He emphasizes that moving assembly to India might only marginally help with tariff-related costs, while the impact on sales could be more significant [3]. Group 2: Financial Outlook - Moffett has reduced his price target for Apple shares from $184 to $141, indicating a potential 33% decline from the previous close, which is the lowest target on Wall Street according to FactSet [3]. - Despite having a "sell" rating on Apple since January 7, Moffett acknowledges the company's strong balance sheet and consumer franchise, attributing concerns more to valuation than company performance [4][5]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The analyst highlights that the ongoing global trade war is affecting both costs and sales, with potential demand destruction due to higher prices resulting from tariffs [5][6]. - Moffett notes that major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile will not absorb the additional tariff costs, leading to increased prices for consumers and potentially lower demand for iPhones [6]. - He points out that Apple is losing market share in China to local competitors like Huawei and Vivo, exacerbated by the backlash against the company due to U.S. tariffs [6][7].

Group 1 - Elon Musk plans to reduce his involvement with Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) and focus more on Tesla starting in May [1] - Tesla's first-quarter profits dropped by 71% to $409 million, attributed to declining sales and the impact of President Trump's tariffs [1] - Revenue for Tesla fell by 9% to $19.3 billion in the first quarter, which was below Wall Street's expectations [2] Group 2 - Tesla's stock has decreased by over 40% this year, although it experienced a slight increase in after-hours trading [2] - Concerns regarding Musk's ability to dedicate sufficient attention to Tesla have contributed to the stock's decline [2] - Shareholders have raised questions about Musk's role as CEO, indicating a focus on leadership stability during an upcoming investor call [3]

At the time of this writing, the Nasdaq Composite index is experiencing a ferocious bear market, cratering nearly 25% from its peak late last year. The sell-off has intensified recently due to growing concerns about how the Trump administration's "reciprocal tariff" policies will affect the global economy. Many economists and financial experts are increasingly concerned that they could spark a global trade war that could ignite a recession. The market volatility could last a while. That's one reason why I'v ...

Group 1: Amazon - Amazon could benefit significantly if tariffs lead to increased consumer buying power and reshoring of manufacturing, as more consumers may shop on its platform and utilize its cloud services [2][3] - The stock price of Amazon remains over 20% below its previous high, presenting a potential buying opportunity for long-term investors if Trump's tariff policy is successful [4] Group 2: Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals is positioned to perform well in a scenario where tariffs lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth, as it markets the only approved therapies for cystic fibrosis and is expanding its product offerings [5][6] - The company is also evaluating drugs in late-stage testing for kidney diseases and has a potential cure for severe type 1 diabetes, indicating strong future growth prospects [7] Group 3: Barrick Gold - Barrick Gold is likely to perform well in a worst-case scenario of a global trade war and recession, as gold is traditionally viewed as a safe haven during economic turmoil [8][10] - The average analyst's 12-month price target for Barrick Gold suggests an upside potential of around 27%, indicating strong investor interest in the stock amid market volatility [10]

Walmart stuck to its full-year sales and income growth forecasts on Wednesday and vowed to keep prices low, even as President Trump’s sweeping tariffs fuel fears of a global recession.The company’s shares, which have fallen nearly 9% since the announcement of a raft of tariffs on April 2, rose about 4%.“The outlook was better-than-expected given the current environment,” D.A. Davidson analyst Michael Baker said on the sidelines of Walmart’s investor meeting in Dallas. “That they maintained guidance is being ...