Stocks Slip As Gold Rebounds To $3,330, Bitcoin Holds $102,000: What’s Driving Markets Friday?
Wall Street traded slightly lower by midday Friday, as investors adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of a potential trade breakthrough, with high-stakes negotiations between U.S. officials—led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent—and Chinese authorities set to unfold over the weekend.
President Donald Trump signaled that tariffs on Chinese goods could be slashed from the current 145% to 80%, though that figure remains significantly higher than pre-Liberation Day levels, prompting continued caution among market participants.
Equities gave back a portion of Thursday’s gains as sentiment turned more defensive, while gold rebounded 1% to $3,330 per ounce, partially offsetting losses from the previous session.
Oil prices extended their rally, climbing further above $60 a barrel amid an improved global demand outlook, putting crude on …