
US stocks rally as investors weigh economic data, Trump policies
Retail sales rebounded marginally in February, but fell short of expectations, reflecting the increasing uncertainty over tariffs and large-scale firing of federal government employees. A separate report showed March factory activity in New York State plummeted the most in nearly two years.
«The only signs of a bounceback in spending from January's weather-induced slump, and stocking up ahead of tariffs, was in online spending,» said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
«Sentiment is often a horrible predictor of spending, but the good vibes that have propped up spending are now a distant memory.»
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 353.44 points, or 0.85%, to 41,841.63, the S&P 500 gained 36.18 points, or 0.64%, to 5,675.12 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 54.58 points, or 0.31%, to 17,808.66.
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In addition, U.S. homebuilder sentiment dropped to a seven-month low in March as tariffs on imported materials raised construction costs.
When the Federal Reserve meets on Wednesday, it is widely expected to keep rates unchanged, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.
Fed officials will also announce economic projections with their policy statement, giving the most tangible evidence yet of how U.S. central bankers view the likely impact of Trump administration policies that have clouded a previously solid economic outlook.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta adjusted its forecast for first-quarter economic activity to show a 2.1% contraction, down from the