How To Lose Friends and Piss Off The World 🌎: Trump Tariffs Unleash Bears In World’s China Shops
@RalphHightower: Yea, I know the idiom is a “Bull In A China Shop”, but a bear in a china shop would be just as destructive. In this particular use, I’m using stock market bulls and bears.
Trump’s tariffs and “America First” policy will leave the US alone, without allies.
Contrary to his sycophants in his administration, Trump is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He has never been the CEO of a large company. He has bankrupted his family owned business six times.
Various news media has reported that today was the worst stock market drop since March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic1.
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Trump Tariffs Hit Antarctic Islands Inhabited by Zero Humans and Many Penguins / WIRED
Caroline Haskins Leah Feiger
Business Apr 2, 2025 7:39 PM
The Heard and McDonald Islands are among the dozens of targets of President Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs. But they have no exports, because no one lives there.
Stock Market Closing Indexes After Trump’s Tariffs Tank World’s Stock Markets
| Americas | Â | Â | Â |
|---|---|---|---|
| Index | Closing Value | Gain/Loss | Percentage Change |
| S&P 500 | 5,396.52 | -274.45 |
 4.84% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | 40,545.93 | -1,679.39 |
3.98% |
| Nasdaq Composite | 16,550.61 | -1,050.44 |
5.97% |
| Russell 2000 Index | 1,910.55 | -134.82 |
6.59% |
| S&P/TSX Composite Index | 24,335.77 | -971.41 |
3.84% |
| IBOVESPA | 131,140.66 | -49.69 |
0.038% |
| NYSE Composite | 18,767.19 | -765.56 |
3.92% |
| Dow Jones Transportation Average | 13,621.34 | -1,371.64 |
9.15% |
| Dow Jones Utility Average | 1,026.49 | -3.75 |
0.36% |
| S&P Latin America 40 | 2,453.13 | +4.90 |
 0.20% |
| VIX2 | 30.02 | +8.51 |
39.56% |
| Russell 1000 | 2,947.81 | -154.68 |
4.99% |
| Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market | 53,180.45 | -2,859.52 |
5.10% |
| Barron’s 400 | 1,139.44 | -72.41 |
5.97% |
| NASDAQ Composite Total Return | 20,257.83 | -1,284.30 |
5.96% |
| Nasdaq-100 | 18,521.48 | -1,060.30 |
5.41% |
| NASDAQ-100 Total Return | 22,416.10 | -1,280.47 |
5.40% |
| NASDAQ Transportation | 5,694.55 | -518.06 |
8.34% |
| NASDAQ Biotechnology | 4,130.78 | -78.59 |
1.87% |
| Nasdaq Financial-100 | 5,997.23 | -385.75 |
6.04% |
| Nasdaq Bank | 3,782.28 | -379.88 |
9.13% |
| Nasdaq Insurance | 16,302.93 | -176.79 |
1.07% |
| Nasdaq Industrial | 10,489.27 | -550.53 |
4.99% |
| Nasdaq Computer | 14,623.76 | -1,091.34 |
6.94% |
| Europe, Middle East, and Africa | Â | Â | Â |
| DAX PERFORMANCE-INDEX | 21,717.39 | -673.45 |
3.01% |
| FTSE 100 Index | 8,474.74 | -133.74 |
1.55% |
| CAC 40 | 7,598.98 | -259.85 |
3.31% |
| IBEX 35 | 13,191.20 | -159.00 |
1.19% |
| EURO STOXX 50 | 5,113.28 | -190.67 |
3.59% |
| S&P EURO | 2,248.41 | -68.39 |
2.95% |
| Dow Jones Germany Titans 30 Index (EUR) | 653.99 | -18.60 |
2.77% |
| TA-125 Index | 2,481.33 | -21.35 |
0.85% |
| AEX index | 877.42 | -24.10 |
2.67% |
| PSI-20 | 6,967.03 | +9.03 |
0.13% |
| WIG | 94,482.05 | -3,481.91 |
3.55% |
| Tadawul All-Share Index | 11,882.65 | -142.40 |
1.18% |
| Swiss Market Index | 12,279.48 | -308.83 |
2.45% |
| S&P Europe 350 | 2,124.74 | -57.02 |
2.61% |
| STOXX Europe 600 | 523.12 | -13.80 |
2.57% |
| FTSE AIM All-Share Index | 667.67 | -18.10 |
2.64% |
| FTSE All-Share Index | 4,564.31 | -76.19 |
1.64% |
| OMX Copenhagen 20 | 1,713.23 | -40.48 |
2.31% |
| OMX Copenhagen 25 | 1,620.00 | -40.46 |
2.44% |
| WIG20 | 2,635.76 | -112.23 |
4.08% |
| WIG30 | 3,374.91 | -131.80 |
3.76% |
| SBF 120 | 5,754.40 | -188.52 |
3.17% |
| CAC LARGE 60 | 8,190.56 | -269.48 |
3.19% |
| BIST 100 | 9,484.26 | -39.05 |
0.41% |
| BIST 30 | 10,332.36 | -67.06 |
0.64% |
| HDAX PERFORMANCE-INDEX | 11,336.40 | -337.77 |
2.89% |
| OMX Helsinki 25 | 4,408.40 | -113.62 |
2.51% |
| SPI 20 PR | 12,002.42 | -301.87 |
2.45% |
| Swiss Performance Index | 16,362.24 | -428.04 |
2.55% |
| AMX index | 825.34 | -24.35 |
2.87% |
| BEL 20 | 4,294.73 | -49.44 |
1.14% |
| PSI ALL-SHARE GR | 4,329.79 | +12.83 |
0.30% |
| Austrian Traded Index | 4,001.00 | -125.97 |
3.05% |
| OMX Stockholm 30 | 2,385.16 | -93.53 |
3.77% |
| OMX Stockholm Benchmark_GI | 1,847.87 | -62.33 |
3.26% |
| OMX Iceland All-Share PI | 2,054.53 | -57.74 |
2.73% |
| OMX Riga_GI | 872.79 | -1.47 |
0.17% |
| OMX Tallinn | 1,959.20 | -13.11 |
0.66% |
| OMX Vilnius_GI | 1,161.45 | -6.21 |
0.53% |
| TA-35 Index | 2,448.47 | -15.22 |
0.62% |
| Asia Pacific | Â | Â | Â |
| Nikkei 225 | 34,735.93 | -989.94 |
2.77% |
| SSE Composite Index | 3,342.01 | -8.12 |
0.24% |
| Hang Seng Index | 22,849.81 | -352.72 |
1.52% |
| BSE SENSEX | 76,295.36 | -322.08 |
0.42% |
| NIFTY 50 | 23,250.10 | -82.25 |
0.35% |
| S&P Asia 50 | 5,665.69 | -67.31 |
1.17% |
| TAIEX | 21,298.22 | +18.05 |
0.085% |
| KOSPI | 2,486.70 | -19.16 |
0.76% |
| S&P/ASX 200 | 7,859.70 | -74.80 |
0.94% |
| S&P/NZX 50 Index | 12,184.85 | -153.72 |
1.25% |
| S&P BSE - 100 | 24,353.66 | -74.99 |
0.31% |
| TOPIX | 2,568.61 | -81.68 |
3.08% |
| A-share Index | 3,502.38 | -8.50 |
0.24% |
| B-share Index | 267.48 | +0.19 |
0.073% |
| SZSE Component Index | 10,365.73 | -147.39 |
1.40% |
| SSE 180 Index | 8,490.25 | -21.58 |
0.25% |
| SSE 50 Index | 2,662.25 | +3.63 |
0.14% |
| ChiNext | 2,065.40 | -39.22 |
1.86% |
| CSI 300 Index | 3,861.50 | -22.88 |
0.59% |
| SZSE Composite Index | 1,992.39 | -22.20 |
1.10% |
| S&P/HKEX GEM Index | 16.89 | -0.070 |
0.41% |
| S&P/HKEX Large Cap Index | 34,570.34 | -594.07 |
1.69% |
| Hang Seng China Enterprises Index | 8,420.14 | -111.37 |
1.31% |
| S&P BSE - 500 | 33,420.86 | -38.79 |
0.12% |
| S&P BSE - 200 | 10,529.35 | -22.37 |
0.21% |
| LQ45 | 734.51 | +3.38 |
0.46% |
| IDX Composite | 6,510.62 | +38.26 |
0.59% |
| FTSE ASEAN All-Share Index | 812.26 | -7.49 |
0.91% |
| S&P/ASX 300 | 7,794.00 | -74.20 |
0.94% |
| S&P/NZX 20 Index | 7,209.21 | -89.98 |
1.23% |
| S&P/NZX All Index | 1,760.46 | -21.73 |
1.22% |
List of some of the major stock markets around the world and their locations:
| Stock Exchange | Location |
|---|---|
| New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) | New York City, USA |
| Nasdaq Stock Market | New York City, USA |
| Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) | Tokyo, Japan |
| Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) | Shanghai, China |
| Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) | Hong Kong, China |
| London Stock Exchange (LSE) | London, United Kingdom |
| Euronext | Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo, Paris |
| Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) | Toronto, Canada |
| National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) | Mumbai, India |
| Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) | Mumbai, India |
| Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) | Shenzhen, China |
| Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) | Sydney, Australia |
| Deutsche Börse (Frankfurt Stock Exchange) | Frankfurt, Germany |
| SIX Swiss Exchange | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Korea Exchange (KRX) | Seoul, South Korea |
| Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) | Taipei, Taiwan |
| Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Bursa Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Singapore Exchange (SGX) | Singapore |
| Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Moscow Exchange (MOEX) | Moscow, Russia |
| Brazil Stock Exchange (B3) | SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil |
Cboe Volatility Index (VIX): What it is and how it’s measured
Story by Brian Baker, CFA. March 25, 2025 Stocks are volatile. That much is understood by most investors, but what exactly is volatility and how is it measured for the overall stock market?
You may have seen references to something called the VIX, an index that measures volatility, during times of extreme financial stress. In August 2024, the VIX briefly jumped above 60, a level not seen since the market meltdown in the initial stages of COVID-19 in March 2020. So far in 2025, the VIX has topped 25 several times, as investors worry about the possible economic shock from global tariffs.
Understanding the VIX can be complicated, so let’s take a closer look at what it means.
What is the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX)?
The VIX is an index run by the Chicago Board Options Exchange, now known as Cboe, that measures the stock market’s expectation for volatility over the next 30 days based on option prices for the S&P 500 stock index. Volatility is a statistical measure based on how much an asset’s price moves in either direction and is often used to measure the riskiness of an asset or security.
The VIX, which was first introduced in 1993, is sometimes called the “fear index” because it can be used by traders and investors to gauge market sentiment and see how fearful, or uncertain, the market is. The VIX typically spikes during or in anticipation of a stock market correction. The higher the VIX goes, the more volatile things are expected to be.
In March 2020, as concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and its impact on the economy was unknown, the VIX reached an all-time high of 82.69. This peak surpassed its previous high of 80.86, which was reached during the fall of 2008 as the global financial crisis was wreaking havoc on markets. For most of its existence, the VIX has generally sat somewhere between the levels of 10 and 30.
How stock market volatility is measured
The VIX attempts to measure volatility over the next 30 days, but it doesn’t do so precisely. A VIX level of 25 doesn’t mean that volatility will average 25 percent over the next month or so. In fact, studies on the VIX have shown that it tends to overestimate volatility by an average of 4 or 5 percent. But the studies also show that there is some predictive value in the VIX. Here are some simple guidelines for what the VIX level is implying about future volatility:
- VIX of 0-12: When the VIX is at this level volatility is expected to be low. For context, the lowest daily closing value for the VIX was 9.14 in November 2017.
- VIX of 13-19: This range is considered to be normal, and volatility over the next 30 days when the VIX is at this level would be expected to be normal.
- VIX of 20 or higher: When the VIX gets to be above 20, you can expect volatility to be higher than normal over the next 30 days. This level is typically reached during times of market stress such as when there are concerns about an economic slowdown or recession. During extreme market events like the financial crisis or the onset of a global pandemic, the VIX may reach levels of 50 or higher.
It should be noted that these are rough guidelines ⏤ unexpected events can throw a wrench into markets and a low VIX level today could be followed by a period of extreme volatility if circumstances change.
Can you invest in the VIX Volatility Index?
Investing in the VIX directly is not possible, but you can purchase ETFs that track the index as a way to speculate on future changes in the VIX or as a tool for hedging. This isn’t something that will make sense for most investors who are working to meet a long-term goal such as saving for retirement.
But for those who are more inclined to trade and speculate, ETFs that track the VIX can be a useful tool. When uncertainty and fear hits the market, stocks generally fall, and your portfolio could take a hit. But because of how they’re constructed, even the best volatility ETFs tend to decline in value over time, even if they do spike higher in times of intense volatility.
Bottom line
The VIX is an index that measures expectations about future volatility. It tends to rise during times of market stress, making it an effective hedging tool for active traders. Though it can’t be invested in directly, you can purchase ETFs that track the VIX. When its level gets to 20 or higher, expectations are that volatility will be above normal over the coming weeks.
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- Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China. Presidential Actions March 3, 2025
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- Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border. Presidential Actions February 3, 2025
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- Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border. Presidential Actions February 1, 2025
- Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China. Fact Sheets February 1, 2025
- Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border. Presidential Actions February 1, 2025
- America First Trade Policy. Presidential Actions January 20, 2025
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@RalphHightower: BTW, Trump was president at that time. ↩
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CBOE Volatility Index. See section below world markets ↩