US stocks closed lower with the S&P 500 down 0.2%, the Nasdaq 100 losing 0.5%, and the Dow slipping 0.3% on Friday, as markets paused after a week of gains to digest mixed corporate earnings and policy signals from President Trump. Despite the declines, all three indices posted nearly 2% gains for the week. A sharp drop in semiconductor stocks weighed on tech-heavy indices, led by Nvidia, which fell 3.1%, while Texas Instruments plunged 7.5% after disappointing forecasts. Trump’s softened stance on tariffs toward China provided some relief, though warnings of potential action against other trade partners kept uncertainties high. Meanwhile, consumer sentiment declined for the first time in six months amid persistent inflation concerns. Investors also weighed the Fed's likely decision to hold rates steady next week, as long-term inflation expectations remain anchored. Corporate highlights included strong results from Amex and Verizon, contrasting with setbacks for TI and Boeing.
The BSE Sensex closed a volatile session lower at 76,190.5 on Friday, ending a two-day winning streak, as traders opted for some profit-booking. Weaker-than-expected Q3FY25 earnings, ongoing selling by foreign investors, widespread valuation concerns, and fears over Donald Trump’s economic policies continued to dominate market sentiment. Additionally, caution prevailed ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision next week. On the corporate front, the broader sectors struggled, while the IT and FMCG indices managed to stay in the green. Reliance Industries (-1.4%) was among the top losers despite saying it plans to build the world’s largest AI-driven data centre in Jamnagar, India, with a massive three-gigawatt capacity to meet the rising demand for AI services. For the week, the BSE Sensex shed about 0.6%, marking the third consecutive weekly decline, the longest streak in three months, amid global economic uncertainty under the new US administration.
