Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a rise early Monday, with S&P 500 futures up 0.5%, Dow Jones futures up 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures up 0.6% despite concerns over a potential U.S. government shutdown [2] - The government is set to run out of funding on Wednesday, with a bleak outlook for a last-minute compromise between Republicans and Democrats [2] - A government shutdown could delay the release of critical economic data, including the comprehensive September jobs report scheduled for Friday [2] Economic Indicators - The Federal Reserve recently cut its benchmark lending rate due to concerns about a cooling labor market, while inflation remains above the 2% target [2] - Inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 2.7% in August from 2.6% in July, raising hopes for further interest rate cuts by the Fed [2] Corporate Developments - GSK's shares rose 2.8% following the announcement of CEO Emma Walmsley's resignation effective December 31, with Luke Miels set to replace her [2] - Electronic Arts' shares jumped 5.7% after the company agreed to a $55 billion buyout to go private [2] International Markets - In Europe, the CAC 40 rose 0.2%, FTSE increased by 0.4%, while the German DAX remained unchanged [2] - Asian markets showed mixed results, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 down 0.7%, while Chinese markets advanced, with the Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite both gaining 0.9% [2] Commodity Trading - U.S. benchmark crude oil prices fell by nearly 2%, down $1.29 to $64.43 per barrel, while Brent crude declined $1.25 to $67.97 per barrel amid concerns over potential oversupply [2] - Gold prices rose 1.2% to a record $3,854.60 per ounce [2]

Core Points - President Trump announced new import tariffs of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets, 30% on upholstered furniture, and 25% on heavy trucks, effective October 1 [2] - The tariffs are intended to reduce the government's budget deficit and boost domestic manufacturing, although no legal justification was provided [2] - The tariffs may lead to higher consumer prices and could negatively impact hiring, contributing to inflationary pressures already observed in the economy [2][4] Pharmaceutical Industry - In 2024, the U.S. imported nearly $233 billion in pharmaceutical and medicinal products, raising concerns that prices for some medicines could double [2] - The announcement of tariffs on pharmaceuticals was unexpected, as Trump had previously indicated a phased approach to tariff implementation [2][4] - Major pharmaceutical companies have announced investments in U.S. production in response to earlier tariff threats [4] Construction and Home Furnishings - Tariffs on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities could increase costs for homebuilders, exacerbating existing housing affordability issues [4] - The National Association of Realtors reported an 11.7% increase in sales listings in August, but the median price for existing homes was $422,600 [4] Heavy Truck Manufacturing - The tariffs on heavy trucks aim to protect domestic manufacturers like Peterbilt and Freightliner from foreign competition [4] - Trump has argued that tariffs will encourage companies to invest in domestic factories, despite evidence suggesting that tariffs have not led to job creation in manufacturing [4] Economic Context - The consumer price index has increased by 2.9% over the past year, indicating ongoing inflation concerns [4] - Despite claims of economic success, job losses in manufacturing and construction have been reported since the introduction of tariffs [4]

Kwangmoozaa/iStock via Getty Images Listen below or on the go on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Trump slaps 100% tariffs on drugs, 25% on heavy trucks and more. (00:28) Federal agencies told to prepare for mass firings if government shuts down. (01:21) Upward pressure on Fed's preferred inflation gauge — PCE price index — is seen persisting in August. (03:05) This is an abridged transcript. President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, including 100% on branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs, to tak ...

Market Overview - U.S. stocks experienced a rise on Friday, with the S&P 500 increasing by 0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 299 points (0.7%), and the Nasdaq composite adding 0.4%, helping to reduce weekly losses [1][2] Inflation and Economic Impact - Inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 2.7% in August from 2.6% in July, which, while above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, aligned with economists' forecasts [2][3] - The expectation of continued interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve is critical for Wall Street, as it has contributed to a significant rise in U.S. stocks since April [3][4] Tariffs and Market Reactions - President Trump's announcement of new tariffs on imports, including pharmaceutical drugs and heavy trucks, has the potential to increase inflation, although details were limited [5][6] - The stock market reacted with mixed results; Paccar, associated with truck brands, rose by 5.2%, while major pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly and Pfizer saw slight increases of 1.4% and 0.7%, respectively [6] - Companies in the home furnishings sector experienced volatility, with Williams-Sonoma fluctuating between gains and losses, while RH dropped by 4.2% [7] Company-Specific Performance - Costco Wholesale's stock fell by 2.9% despite reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, attributed to slower membership renewal rates and disappointing underlying revenue growth [8]

Core Viewpoint - President Trump criticized Walmart for not absorbing the costs associated with his tariffs, suggesting that the retail giant should not pass these costs onto consumers [1][5][16] Group 1: Impact of Tariffs on Walmart - Walmart warned that prices for various products, including bananas and children's car seats, could increase due to tariffs [2][8] - Walmart's CFO indicated that a $350 car seat made in China could see a price increase of $100, representing a 29% rise [11] - The company has reported strong first-quarter sales but emphasized the limits to which it can keep prices low amidst rising costs [12] Group 2: Economic Context and Consumer Sentiment - Economic analyses suggest that tariffs could worsen inflation, with a recent consumer sentiment survey indicating that approximately 75% of respondents mentioned tariffs as a concern [2][8] - The tariffs have contributed to a decline in consumer sentiment, marking the second-lowest measure on record [8] - Trump's tariffs have created uncertainty in the U.S. economy, affecting major companies and their supply chains [11][14] Group 3: Trump's Economic Agenda - Trump insists that his economic agenda will lead to more domestic manufacturing jobs, urging Walmart to sacrifice profits for this cause [4][16] - The administration has reduced tariffs from 145% to 30% for a 90-day period, but has maintained high tariffs on various imports, including autos and steel [12][14] - Trump has called for the Federal Reserve to cut benchmark rates, despite concerns that this could accelerate inflation [16][17]

Company Overview - Pfizer is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.67 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 18.3% [3] - Revenues are anticipated to be $13.88 billion, down 6.7% from the same quarter last year [3] - The Most Accurate Estimate for Pfizer is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -7.23% [10] Earnings Expectations - The consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating a stable outlook from analysts [4] - A positive or negative Earnings ESP reading indicates the likely deviation of actual earnings from the consensus estimate, with positive readings being more predictive of earnings beats [7][8] - Despite a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), the negative Earnings ESP makes it challenging to predict an earnings beat for Pfizer [11] Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Pfizer exceeded expectations by delivering earnings of $0.63 per share against an expected $0.48, resulting in a surprise of +31.25% [12] - Over the past four quarters, Pfizer has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates [13] Industry Context - AbbVie, a peer in the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry, is expected to post earnings of $2.40 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 3.9% [17] - AbbVie's revenue is projected to be $12.91 billion, up 4.8% from the previous year [17] - AbbVie has an Earnings ESP of -0.92% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), making it difficult to predict an earnings beat [18]