💀Fear with mixed news

and economic activity jumps

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Good morning investors! Fear continues to rule the market as it appears to be reacting quickly to news.

Today we cover:

  • Economic activity jumps

  • Stocks bounce back

  • More about tariffs

Stocks may be down but dividend paying companies are still paying well with some having increased dividends this year. Check our latest issue for the top 9 companies that have boosted the yield in 2025 and don’t forget to join Dividend Download, our weekly newsletter covering dividends.

📊 Economy and News 

U.S. Economy Sees Modest Growth Amid Rising Uncertainty

Economic activity in the U.S. has grown slightly but unevenly since mid-January, with modest employment gains and rising prices. While businesses and households remain cautiously optimistic, uncertainty over the latest policies on trade and immigration is creating concerns about future growth, labor demand, and inflation.

The latest Beige Book report highlights increasing anxiety, with mentions of uncertainty and tariffs surging since January. Businesses across multiple Fed districts are holding off investments due to policy concerns, while consumer spending shows signs of slowing. Tariff-related inflationary pressures are mounting, with manufacturing costs rising and some companies warning of higher prices ahead.

While some industries see potential benefits from deregulation and tax cuts, the overall economic outlook has shifted from slightly optimistic to neutral, reflecting growing unease about policy-driven risks.

Global hits:

Jobs disappoint: Private sector job creation in February came in at just 77,000, a sharp decline from January’s revised 186,000 and well below estimates of 148,000. This marks the smallest increase since July, reinforcing broader signs of a gradual cooling in the labor market.

Check this: The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $806,500 or less fell to 6.73% from 6.88%. Mortgage application volume surged 20.4% last week compared to the previous week. This marked the first increase in three weeks and represented a significant weekly jump.

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📈 Stocks

S&P 500 5,842.63 (+1.12%)
DJIA 43,006.59 (+1.14%)
NASDAQ 18,552.73 (+1.46%)
BRENT CRUDE 69.82 (+0.75%)
* Prices as of Mar 6th, 12:20 AM UTC

Stock Market Rebounds as Tariff Exemption Boosts Automakers

US stocks surged Wednesday after the Trump administration announced a one-month exemption on tariffs affecting Canadian and Mexican auto imports. The Dow jumped 615 points before paring gains, closing up 1.45%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq gained 1.14% and 1.36%, respectively.

Automakers benefited the most, with General Motors rising 7.8%, Stellantis up 10%, and Ford gaining 5.7%. The exemption provided relief after the market's sharp losses earlier in the week, sparked by tariff concerns and retaliatory measures from trading partners.

While investors welcomed the move, uncertainty remains high. Trade tensions with Canada, Mexico, and China continue to fuel inflation risks and market volatility. Despite Wednesday’s rebound, the S&P 500 remains below its record high from two weeks ago.

Exciting: UK drops antitrust probe into Microsoft and OpenAI tie-up. Elsewhere, Qualcomm has unveiled its latest high-end modem, the X85, with CEO Cristiano Amon claiming it delivers a "huge delta" in performance compared to Apple’s offering. Meanwhile, Apple recently introduced its first in-house modem, the C1, with the quiet launch of the iPhone 16e last month.

Also, ASML Holdings reiterated its sales forecast for the year despite uncertainty around tariffs and sanctions..

Earning: Adidas reported a 19% rise in revenue at neutral currency rates, reaching 5.97 billion euros ($6.34 billion) in the fourth quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of 5.72 billion euros, according to LSEG. The company posted an operating profit of 57 million euros for the quarter, a sharp turnaround from the 377 million euro loss in the same period last year. Adidas is working to expand its market share in North America as Nike faces declining sales and retailers shift away from relying too heavily on a weaker Chinese market.

💵 Personal Finance

Rental Market Heats Up Despite Record-High Apartment Construction

Despite a record 600,000 new multifamily units completed last year—the highest level since 1974—competition for rentals remains fierce, according to a new RentCafe report. Lease renewals are rising, occupancy rates are holding steady at 93.3%, and available apartments are attracting more applicants than ever, making it increasingly difficult for renters to secure a unit.

Miami tops the list as the most competitive rental market, with an average of 14 applicants per unit. The city's appeal as a financial and business hub, combined with its lack of income tax, has driven demand. The Midwest also stands out, with cities like suburban Chicago, Detroit, and Cincinnati ranking among the nation’s hottest rental markets.

After months of declines, rents are climbing again, rising 0.3% in February. Although national rents remain slightly lower than last year, the trend suggests further increases through the summer. While rent growth has cooled from its 2021-2022 surge, prices are still 20% higher than in early 2021, keeping affordability a concern for renters across the country.

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