Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after discouraging data and ahead of a tariff deadline

U.S. stocks are experiencing mixed trading as investors navigate the latest economic signals and impending tariff decisions by President Donald Trump. The S&P 500 index saw a slight decline of 0.2% in morning trading, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average showed a marginal increase of less than 0.1%. The Nasdaq composite dropped by 0.4%, reflecting the market's uncertainty. Recent economic reports reveal weaker-than-expected manufacturing growth and growing consumer pessimism about inflation, exacerbated by the looming threat of new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. Manufacturing activity continues to grow, but a contraction in new orders and rising prices due to tariff discussions are causing concern.
The potential impact of Trump's tariff policies is significant, with Wall Street hoping for a strategic negotiation approach that minimizes economic damage. The tariffs, set to take effect on Tuesday, could further strain the U.S. economy, which is already grappling with high inflation. Meanwhile, global markets have shown varied responses, with European stocks rising due to easing inflation reports and China's manufacturing sector experiencing a rush of orders. In contrast, U.S. stocks related to cryptocurrency, such as MicroStrategy and Coinbase, have seen gains following Trump's announcement of a crypto strategic reserve. The upcoming earnings reports from major U.S. retailers are anticipated with keen interest as they will provide insights into consumer spending behavior amid economic uncertainties.
RATING
The article provides a comprehensive overview of current economic and market conditions, focusing on the impact of tariffs and stock market performance. It scores well in accuracy, timeliness, and public interest, offering relevant and up-to-date information on critical economic issues. However, the story could benefit from greater source diversity and transparency, as well as improved balance by incorporating a wider range of perspectives. While the article is clear and readable, enhancements in structure and engagement could further elevate its impact. Overall, the story is informative and timely, but with room for improvement in certain dimensions to maximize its potential influence and reader engagement.
RATING DETAILS
The story provides a generally accurate representation of the U.S. stock market's performance, mentioning specific indices such as the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq composite. The reported figures for these indices align with typical market reporting, though specific verification from market data sources would be needed for absolute precision.
The article discusses economic reports indicating weaker-than-expected data, particularly in U.S. manufacturing. While the story captures the essence of economic slowdown, it would benefit from more precise data points or references to specific economic reports to enhance verifiability.
The mention of tariff deadlines set by President Trump, including past delays and potential increases, is consistent with known policy actions, though the exact figures and timing could be cross-verified with official announcements or policy documents.
Overall, the article's factual claims are mostly verifiable, but some areas, such as the specific economic data and the exact impact on stocks, would require additional confirmation from primary sources or economic reports.
The article provides a balanced overview of the current economic and market conditions, discussing both positive and negative aspects. It mentions the recent performance of various stocks, including Nvidia and Tesla, and provides context on the broader economic impacts of tariffs and inflation.
However, the story could benefit from a wider range of perspectives, particularly from economists or market analysts, to provide deeper insights into the potential long-term effects of tariffs and economic policies. The article leans slightly towards highlighting the negative impacts of tariffs without equally emphasizing potential benefits or alternative viewpoints on the administration's trade policies.
While the narrative includes some optimistic notes about Wall Street's hopes regarding tariff negotiations, it could present a more comprehensive view by including expert opinions or contrasting perspectives from different stakeholders in the economy.
The article is generally clear in its presentation of information, with a logical flow from discussing stock market performance to economic conditions and tariff impacts. The language is straightforward, making it accessible to a broad audience.
However, the narrative occasionally jumps between topics without providing adequate transitions, which can affect the reader's ability to follow the story's progression. For instance, the shift from U.S. economic conditions to global market trends could be smoother to enhance comprehension.
Overall, while the article is clear in its individual sections, improving the connectivity between different parts of the narrative would enhance overall clarity and reader engagement.
The article cites Timothy Fiore, chair of the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing business survey committee, which lends credibility to the discussion on manufacturing activity. However, the story lacks a broader range of sources to support its various claims about the stock market and economic conditions.
The absence of direct quotes or references from economists, financial analysts, or government officials weakens the overall source quality. Including such voices would enhance the article's reliability and provide a more nuanced understanding of the issues discussed.
While the story captures the essence of market trends and economic signals, the reliance on a limited number of sources makes it less robust in terms of source diversity and authority.
The article provides limited transparency in terms of explaining the basis for its claims about economic conditions and stock market performance. While it mentions specific indices and economic indicators, it does not detail the methodology or sources used to derive these insights.
There is a lack of disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest or biases, particularly in the context of discussing tariffs and their impact. Greater transparency could be achieved by explaining the sources of economic data and the reasoning behind the market analysis presented.
Overall, the article would benefit from clearer explanations of how the information was gathered and the potential influences on the reporting, which would increase reader trust and understanding.
Sources
- https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/3/wall-street-drifts-discouraging-data-ahead-tariff-deadline/
- https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2424055/stock-market-news-for-mar-3-2025
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2K61zA_5rg
- https://www.tipranks.com/news/stock-market-news-today-3-3-25-futures-dip-amid-tariff-uncertainty
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