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Monday, Feb 16, 2026
Outside the box.
US Shares Experience Significant Decline Amid Economic Uncertainty
Stock Market Reacts to President Trump's Recession Warning and Ongoing Tariff Policies
US stock markets suffered considerable losses on March 10, 2025, following President Donald Trump's ambiguous remarks regarding the possibility of a recession and heightened inflation.
The remarks come against the backdrop of fluctuating trade policies that have contributed to a volatile economic environment.
Shares of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla fell sharply, closing down by at least 15% to $222, marking a decline of more than 50% from its peak of $479.86 recorded on December 17, 2024. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, expressed confidence in the company's long-term prospects via social media platform X, stating, 'it will be fine long-term.' The stock had previously surged in value after Trump's election victory in November.
The Nasdaq Composite index fell over 4% on the same day, with substantial losses also recorded in the technology sector.
Notable declines included Palantir, which dropped 7.6%, and Nvidia, down 5.1%.
Major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs each experienced dips of more than 4%.
The S&P 500 index recorded a decline of approximately 2.7%, marking its most significant daily percentage drop since December 18, 2024.
This market downturn was triggered after President Trump characterized the current economic phase as a 'period of transition' and mentioned that his trade policies would 'take a little time' to yield results.
In an interview with Fox News, he stated, 'I hate to predict things like that' when asked about a potential recession.
He acknowledged the possibility of rising inflation due to his tariff policies, but noted that interest rates are currently down.
The previous week also saw the S&P 500 post its worst performance since September 2024, declining by 3.1% amid concerns surrounding Trump's inconsistent tariff policies.
As previously imposed tariffs began and stopped on imports from Mexico and Canada, market sentiment shifted, causing apprehension about a potential trade war.
Trump's administration has implemented 10% tariffs on Chinese imports, which has elicited a strong response from China, with Chinese officials stating their readiness for extended trade conflict.
This situation has escalated trade tensions further, leading to a reciprocal imposition of tariffs by China on various US products, including coal and liquefied natural gas.
The economic outlook was further clouded by a warning from the Atlanta Federal Reserve about an expected economic contraction in the first quarter of 2025. While Trump has reiterated that the tariffs aim to stimulate domestic investment and manufacturing jobs, there remains significant concern from businesses and consumers about the adverse effects on economic growth, rising costs, and potential job losses.
Trump's approach to trade has created friction with international allies, who view his aggressive tariff strategies as detrimental to economic relations.
As the administrative stance on tariffs continues to evolve, markets remain on edge regarding the implications for the broader US economy.
The remarks come against the backdrop of fluctuating trade policies that have contributed to a volatile economic environment.
Shares of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla fell sharply, closing down by at least 15% to $222, marking a decline of more than 50% from its peak of $479.86 recorded on December 17, 2024. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, expressed confidence in the company's long-term prospects via social media platform X, stating, 'it will be fine long-term.' The stock had previously surged in value after Trump's election victory in November.
The Nasdaq Composite index fell over 4% on the same day, with substantial losses also recorded in the technology sector.
Notable declines included Palantir, which dropped 7.6%, and Nvidia, down 5.1%.
Major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs each experienced dips of more than 4%.
The S&P 500 index recorded a decline of approximately 2.7%, marking its most significant daily percentage drop since December 18, 2024.
This market downturn was triggered after President Trump characterized the current economic phase as a 'period of transition' and mentioned that his trade policies would 'take a little time' to yield results.
In an interview with Fox News, he stated, 'I hate to predict things like that' when asked about a potential recession.
He acknowledged the possibility of rising inflation due to his tariff policies, but noted that interest rates are currently down.
The previous week also saw the S&P 500 post its worst performance since September 2024, declining by 3.1% amid concerns surrounding Trump's inconsistent tariff policies.
As previously imposed tariffs began and stopped on imports from Mexico and Canada, market sentiment shifted, causing apprehension about a potential trade war.
Trump's administration has implemented 10% tariffs on Chinese imports, which has elicited a strong response from China, with Chinese officials stating their readiness for extended trade conflict.
This situation has escalated trade tensions further, leading to a reciprocal imposition of tariffs by China on various US products, including coal and liquefied natural gas.
The economic outlook was further clouded by a warning from the Atlanta Federal Reserve about an expected economic contraction in the first quarter of 2025. While Trump has reiterated that the tariffs aim to stimulate domestic investment and manufacturing jobs, there remains significant concern from businesses and consumers about the adverse effects on economic growth, rising costs, and potential job losses.
Trump's approach to trade has created friction with international allies, who view his aggressive tariff strategies as detrimental to economic relations.
As the administrative stance on tariffs continues to evolve, markets remain on edge regarding the implications for the broader US economy.
