Based on these Articles -
https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/tariffs-sectors-investing?ccsource=email_weekly_AT
https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/active-investor/chart-of-the-week?ccsource=email_weekly_AT
https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/income-investing-outlook?ccsource=email_weekly_AT
https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/trading-halts?ccsource=email_weekly_AT
Know about the Tariffs, how it impacts your income, how trading halts work and what are the unexplored places to invest and how Crypto has been doing during these times.
Detailed Timeline of Main Events (as of April 16, 2025)
- Prior to the Timeline: Canada's economy becomes increasingly dependent on exporting natural resources and manufactured goods (like cars) to the US over the past three decades. It also becomes less able to grow and compete globally. Many US industrial companies shift manufacturing to Canada and Mexico due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
- Mid-December, 2024: Bitcoin climbs above $100,000 for the first time.
- Early 2025:
- Oil prices reach a near-term peak in mid-January but subsequently fall substantially (roughly 15% year-to-date by mid-April).
- New tariff policies are implemented, causing significant swings in stock prices and introducing uncertainty across various market sectors.
- Consumer sentiment dips due to expectations of higher prices resulting from tariffs.
- The energy sector becomes one of the worst-performing, largely driven by falling oil prices and recession worries potentially impacting demand.
- Bitcoin, after its December peak, begins to decline, falling roughly 9% year-to-date by mid-April, mirroring the risk-off sentiment in the broader market.
- Q2 2025 (as of April 16):Uncertainty surrounding tariff policies continues to affect all sectors of the stock market to varying degrees.
- Health care and consumer discretionary/staples sectors are identified as potentially vulnerable in the near term to new trade barriers.
- The industrials sector is suggested as a potential long-term beneficiary if tariffs drive more manufacturing to the US.
- The tech and communication services sectors face uncertainty due to the complex global semiconductor supply chain and potential impacts on end markets like autos.
- Energy sector performance remains weak due to demand concerns, although supply-side factors could offer some support. Imports of oil, gas, and refined products remain exempt from tariffs.
- Consumer discretionary companies, especially those with supply chains in Asia (like apparel and footwear), face potential earnings pressure if consumers react negatively to tariff-induced price increases.
- Retailers of aftermarket auto parts are seen as relatively insulated from tariffs due to pricing power.
- Fidelity portfolio managers emphasize the importance of active management and diversification during this period of heightened uncertainty.
- Risk-off investor sentiment leads to a decline in Bitcoin, bringing it near a 5-month low. The trend of Bitcoin trading alongside stocks continues.
- A Fidelity portfolio manager (Adam Kramer) identifies potential income opportunities in Canadian bonds and dividend-paying stocks, arguing that their prices have been temporarily depressed by tariff fears despite potentially brighter prospects due to necessary economic reforms in Canada.
- Income opportunities in US convertible bonds, high-yield bonds, bank loans, and select emerging market bonds (Brazilian local currency sovereign bonds and Mexican USD-denominated oil company bonds).
- The concept and mechanics of trading halts (market-wide circuit breakers and single-security circuit breakers) are explained as mechanisms to curb panic selling during extreme market volatility.
