Wall Street opened without clear direction on Friday, following Thursday’s sharp sell-off driven by renewed concerns over regional banks.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.1pc to 6,623.55, extending losses after a 0.6pc decline in the previous session. Shares in Zions Bancorp and Western Alliance weighed on sentiment amid fears of potential bad loan announcements across the sector.
In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2pc to 46,062.45 after Donald Trump signalled plans to ease his trade war with China — a move that lifted investor confidence in industrial and export-focused stocks.
Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3pc to 22,506.76, with tech shares continuing to lag following recent volatility in the broader market.
Donald Trump Drops 100% Tariff Threat Ahead of China Talks
Donald Trump has backed away from his threat to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, signalling a softer stance ahead of planned trade talks with President Xi Jinping.
The US president confirmed he would meet his Chinese counterpart within two weeks, easing tensions that had flared between Washington and Beijing over the past week.
Speaking to Fox News on Friday morning, Mr Trump was asked whether the newly announced tariffs on Chinese imports would still go ahead. He replied simply: “No.”
