empty
29.04.2025 09:10 AM
The Market Has Licked Its Wounds

The market always keeps us engaged. Despite all the gloomy talk of recession, trade wars, supply shortages, inflation, and layoffs, the S&P 500 has declined by just a little over 3% from the levels seen when tariffs were announced on America's Liberation Day. For equities, what matters most is not the economy itself but how companies respond to its state. Can they remain profitable, and how strong will that profitability be? Between 2000 and 2015, excluding the recession, profit margins averaged 7.8%. In 2024, that figure rose to 10.7%. So, what should we expect in 2025?

Four members of the Magnificent Seven — Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft — report earnings between late April and early May. NVIDIA was hit by news that China's Huawei has developed a high-performance AI chip. However, overall, this group of companies has managed to recover after a wave of sell-offs. Although their share of the S&P 500's total market capitalization has significantly decreased, these former leaders have regained their footing.

Market Capitalization Share Dynamics of the Magnificent Seven in the S&P 500

This image is no longer relevant

The sell-off in Magnificent Seven stocks wasn't the only reason behind the broader market correction. Due to the erosion of U.S. exceptionalism, capital outflows from the New World to the Old also significantly impacted the S&P 500. But here, too, there are signs of improvement.

The Eurozone is much more export-oriented than the U.S. In Germany, exports account for over 40% of GDP, whereas in the U.S., that figure is just 11%. As a result, about 60% of companies in the EuroStoxx 600 generate sales abroad. A decline in the U.S. dollar index hurts their corporate earnings.

Performance of the U.S. Dollar vs. a Basket of European Companies

This image is no longer relevant

Add to this the renewed investor confidence in the "Trump put" — the idea that the U.S. president is ready to step in to support the market in the event of a significant downturn — and the rally in the broad stock index becomes less surprising. Indeed, in recent days, the White House has adopted an increasingly conciliatory tone. According to insider reports from The Wall Street Journal, auto tariffs are expected to be eased, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is hopeful that Congress will extend tax breaks by July 4.

This image is no longer relevant

What once seemed like a trained crowd of investors buying the dip now appears very different. If Donald Trump and his team are ready to throw a lifeline to the U.S. stock market, Europe isn't as strong as it once seemed, and the Magnificent Seven have found their footing again — then the S&P 500 rally could very well continue.

Technically, a doji bar with a long lower shadow has formed on the daily chart of the broad index. A breakout above its high, near 5550, would allow further build-up of long positions opened from the 5500 level. From there, the S&P 500's fate will depend on whether it can break through the resistance zones at 5625 and 5695.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

USD/JPY. Analysis and Forecast

The bulls of the Japanese yen have not been significantly affected by the disappointing GDP report for Japan's first quarter. This is largely due to growing expectations that the Bank

Irina Yanina 18:38 2025-05-16 UTC+2

XAU/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Gold is experiencing renewed intraday pressure, falling below the key psychological level of $3200 during the first half of the European session on Friday. Optimism surrounding the trade truce between

Irina Yanina 18:37 2025-05-16 UTC+2

Market gets lost in crowd

Investors are so confident that Donald Trump is following the stock market's lead that the S&P 500 no longer needs a reason to rise. The broad equity index had been

Marek Petkovich 11:40 2025-05-16 UTC+2

Japan on the Brink of Recession

The GDP report published on Thursday revealed that Japan's economy contracted by 0.7% year-over-year in the first quarter—its first annual decline in the past year and significantly worse than expected

Kuvat Raharjo 11:00 2025-05-16 UTC+2

Investors Continue Digesting the Impact of the Tariff Truce Between the U.S. and China (There Is a Chance of Renewed Corrective Decline in Gold and Oil Prices)

Markets have fully priced in the outcome of the U.S.–China talks, which resulted in a 90-day trade truce. Weaker-than-expected U.S. economic data offset the early-week optimism. The recent rally lost

Pati Gani 10:49 2025-05-16 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on May 16? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

Few macroeconomic events are scheduled for Friday, and they are not more significant than the reports released on Thursday, which did not provoke any market reaction. In essence, the only

Paolo Greco 06:17 2025-05-16 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – May 16: The Market Has No Desire to Sell

The GBP/USD currency pair traded sideways on Thursday with low volatility—typical behavior for the pound over the past month. First, there was a classic flat range; now, we see "swings"

Paolo Greco 03:54 2025-05-16 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – May 16: The Dollar Remains the World's "Number One Currency"

The EUR/USD currency pair moved in both directions on Thursday but ultimately remained below the moving average line. Its position beneath the moving average allows us to expect further strengthening

Paolo Greco 03:54 2025-05-16 UTC+2

Are Things Really So Optimistic with the Deals with China and the UK?

Last week, Donald Trump announced the signing of the first deal with the United Kingdom under his "America's Liberation" campaign. It was later revealed that the deal had not been

Chin Zhao 00:40 2025-05-16 UTC+2

The Euro Didn't End Up in the Junkyard

Chinese goods have flooded the European market, but EUR/USD bulls aren't alarmed by this. While the U.S. has reduced tariffs on imports from China, the weighted average tariff still sits

Marek Petkovich 00:39 2025-05-16 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.