The three major U.S. stock indices rose slightly on Monday. The United States temporarily excluded smartphones, computers, and other electronic products from the tariff range, and President Trump hinted during trading that he might exempt 25% tariffs on auto parts, sparking a surge in automotive stocks. Bitcoin has been consolidating in a large range recently, with Strategy (formerly Microstrategy) and various Bitcoin reserve strategy companies buying Bitcoin.
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ToggleTariffs Changing Rapidly, Investors at a Loss
Investors are still trying to gauge the spillover effects of the trade war due to back-and-forth negotiations. While U.S. officials insist the tariff strategy is carefully designed, critics argue that this trade order depends on the whims of a deal-making president.
The White House announced a trade investigation into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries on Monday, which is seen as a potential prelude to expanding the comprehensive U.S. trade war. Although the investigation may take months to complete, progress appears to be potentially faster than investors expected.
Wall Street investment banks are increasingly indicating the difficulty of predicting stock market trends in this situation. Barclays Bank stated that recent volatility makes current pricing lack confidence, while JPMorgan analysts said predicting is challenging in the current environment and multiple outcomes are possible.
Jay Woods from Freedom Capital Markets said: One thing the government is doing well right now is keeping market participants on alert!
Fed Governor Waller: Rate Cut Likely to Be Considered in the Second Half of the Year
U.S. Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller outlined two scenarios in which Trump's trade policy might affect the U.S. economy in his speech yesterday, but said the inflationary impact in both cases might be temporary.
In prepared remarks for an event in St. Louis on Monday, Waller stated that this new tariff policy is "one of the largest shocks to the U.S. economy in decades". He said if tariffs have a slight impact on inflation, a rate cut would be "very likely" to be considered in the second half of 2025.
Strategy and Bitcoin Reserve Strategy Companies Buying Bitcoin
Bitcoin has been consolidating in a large range recently, with Strategy (formerly Microstrategy) and various Bitcoin reserve strategy companies buying Bitcoin.
Strategy recently spent $285.6 million to acquire 3,459 Bitcoins, with an average cost of about $82,618 per Bitcoin, achieving an 11.4% Bitcoin return so far in 2025. As of April 13, 2025, Strategy holds 531,644 BTC, with a total investment of approximately $35.92 billion and an average purchase price of about $67,556 per coin. Strategy founder Michael Saylor emphasized, Bitcoin has no tariffs!
Japan's Metaplanet also announced yesterday the additional purchase of 319 Bitcoins. They currently hold 4,525 Bitcoins.
Hong Kong's Moon Holdings announced the purchase of 10 Bitcoins last week, currently holding 28.88 Bitcoins.
Risk Warning
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