QuickTakes

The most concise analysis of the key variables driving the global economy and financial markets.

Short-form takes on current market events.

ECONOMIC WEEK: April 7–11

While Trump’s tariffs will likely dominate the headlines, the economic week ahead will also focus on the inflationary impact of US import duties. We expect March’s CPI (Thu) and PPI (Fri) to confirm our concern that higher goods prices

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Stocks Greet Liberation Day With Bronx Cheers

President Donald Trump and his guests at the Rose Garden today celebrated Liberation Day. Stock investors won’t be celebrating tomorrow based on the plunge in futures prices tied to the DJIA, S&P 500, and the Nasdaq-100. The Stock Market

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LIBERATION WEEK: March 31–April 4

Trump’s Reign of Tariffs will likely dominate the economic week ahead. The big event will occur on April 2 (dubbed “Liberation Day” by President Donald Trump). That’s when the administration will impose reciprocal tariffs on a number of America’s

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Trump Slams On The Auto Tariff Brakes

President Trump’s Wednesday night announcement of a 25% tariff on imports of foreign motor vehicles caused a selloff in auto stocks today. Components such as engines and transmissions are also impacted, while previously trade-compliant parts from Canada and Mexico will be slapped

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The AI Trade

Two months ago at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, “All I know is, I’m good for my $80 billion” regarding the $500 billion Stargate AI announcement. His comments followed the emergence of DeepSeek’s

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Losing Confidence

Consumers are feeling okay about the present situation, but they are losing their confidence in the future. The obvious cause of their anxiety is Trump Turmoil 2.0. The Trump administration admits that its trade and DOGE policies might cause some economic pain in the short run but says they

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Helter-Skelter

“Helter-skelter” is a term used to describe disorderly haste, confusion, or chaos. That seems to be descriptive of the modus operandi of President Donald Trump’s trade policy. Then again, perhaps there is method to the madness. Perhaps it is

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‘There Will Be Flexibility’

When President Donald Trump was asked on Friday about his tariff policies, he said: “I didn’t change my mind. I don’t change. But the word ‘flexibility’ is an important word. Sometimes there’s flexibility. So there will be flexibility, but

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ECONOMIC WEEK: March 24–28

The predominant theme of the economic week ahead will be inflation, both realized and expected. Consumer inflation expectations will be updated for March, while February’s PCED inflation rate also will be released (both Fri). Cooler-than-expected CPI and PPI prints last month aren’t

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