😭 It's correction time

and job openings jump

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Good morning investors! Small business uncertainty about the economy has jumped to the second-highest level since 1973 as investors say thee market is ‘sick and tired’ of tariff chaos as we await today’s big inflation report.

Today we cover:

  • Job openings jump

  • The changing face of tariffs

  • Stocks continue to fall

📊 Economy and News 

U.S. Job Openings Rise in January, but Outlook Remains Uncertain

U.S. job openings increased in January, with the Labor Department reporting 7.74 million vacancies, up 232,000 from December. However, demand for labor may weaken in the coming months due to concerns over tariffs and government spending cuts.

The labor market remains steady, with layoffs declining for the fourth consecutive month to their lowest level since June. There were 1.13 job openings per unemployed person, up from 1.09 in December, though hiring remained cautious amid economic uncertainty.

Retail trade led the rise in job openings with 143,000 additional positions, followed by financial activities (+122,000) and healthcare (+58,000). Meanwhile, vacancies fell in professional and business services (-122,000), leisure and hospitality (-46,000), and the federal government (-3,000), likely due to a hiring freeze.

Despite the January increase, annual revisions showed fewer job openings than previously estimated, with the annual average declining by 1.5 million to 7.8 million in 2024. The job openings rate edged up to 4.6% from 4.5% in December.

Global hits:

Panic: India’s IndusInd Bank shares plunge 27%, major shareholder urges calm. Elsewhere, US car buyers rush to dealer lots to avoid tariff-related price hikes.

Canada vs. Trump: In a twist yesterday, President Donald Trump raised (and withdrew later) tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% in response to Ontario’s 25% tax on U.S. electricity imports forcing Ontario’s Ford to suspend U.S. electric surcharge. Trump called Canada a "tariff abuser," insisting tariffs were reciprocal.

Meanwhile, a new U.S. rule will require Canadians staying over 30 days to register with the government. Furthermore, US dollar hits one-week high against Canadian dollar on Trump tariffs. This confusion also led the Canadian stock market lower.

Stocks 24 hours: The Nasdaq (NDAQ) has applied for regulatory approval to introduce 24-hour equity trading, following in the footsteps of Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) and the New York Stock Exchange (ICE).

While brokers like Robinhood (HOOD) and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) already allow extended-hours trading through alternative systems such as Blue Ocean, this move would bring round-the-clock access into the mainstream. However, implementation is still some time away, with Nasdaq targeting a launch in the second half of 2026.

We did a similar poll last month where we asked our subscribers if they’d like the market to open all 7 days and about 80% chose NO.

Would you welcome a 24-hour market?

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Surprise: TV advertisers spent $244 million on women’s sports in 2024, a year-over-year increase of 139%.

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📈 Stocks

S&P 500 5,572.07 (-0.76%)
DJIA 41,433.48 (-1.14%)
NASDAQ 17,436.10 (-0.18%)
BRENT CRUDE 69.54 (+0.65%)
* Prices as of Mar 12th, 12:20 AM UTC

S&P 500 Tumbles Amid Tariff Uncertainty and Recession Fears

The S&P 500 endured a volatile trading session as investors reacted to shifting tariff policies from President Donald Trump. The uncertainty pushed the benchmark index dangerously close to a correction—defined as a 10% decline from its peak.

Markets saw brief gains during the day before Trump announced additional tariffs that he later withdrew.

This marks yet another episode of erratic trade policy moves that have shaken business and consumer confidence, contributing to market volatility over the past three weeks.

Delta Air Lines took a beating after slashing its earnings outlook due to weakening U.S. demand, sending its stock down 7.3%. Other travel-related stocks, including Disney and Airbnb, also took a hit, each falling 5%. This is worrisome as even Southwest has lowered expectations.

Meanwhile, investor anxiety deepened as Trump appeared unconcerned about the market’s recent downturn. “Markets are going to go up and they’re going to go down, but, you know what, we have to rebuild our country,” he said when asked about the situation, according to a White House pool report.

In a surprising turn, Reddit shares rose more than 10% on Tuesday, reversing a three-day slump that coincided with a broader decline among technology companies. Some other companies like Meta and Nvidia also jumped slightly.

Also, Boeing jumped 4% thanks to February deliveries surging 63% YoY. Some think the stock may see big jumps this year.

Kohl’s struggles: Kohl’s earnings and revenue topped estimates for the fourth quarter, but it issued disappointing guidance for 2025. Revenue came in at $5.18 billion for the fourth quarter and $15.39 billion for the full year. The retailer said it expects revenue to fall 5% to 7% in fiscal 2025. This sent the stock down -24% to $9.15. The stock hit a new 52-week low yesterday at $8.75. This is also the lowest it has been since the last century.

Good to know: Trump calls Tesla boycott ‘illegal’ and says he’s buying one to support Elon Musk. Elsewhere, Volkswagen expects revenue to grow in 2025, says it feels ‘all-American’ as tariffs loom. Lastly, U.S. egg prices are down $1.85 per dozen.

Reminder: Verizon and AT&T fell as they couldn't impress investors with full-year outlook.

💵 Personal Finance

Rising Car Costs and How to Manage Payments

Nearly 1 in 5 new-car buyers now face monthly payments of $1,000 or more, per Edmunds. For a median U.S. household earning $80,610, that’s 15% of pre-tax income—before insurance, gas, or maintenance.

With new car prices averaging $50,000 and potential 25% tariffs from Mexico and Canada looming (adding up to $5,790), costs are soaring. Still, your credit score, loan terms, and down payment can help ease the burden.

Your credit score heavily influences loan rates. Financing $48,641 with a 15% down payment over 60 months, payments range from $824 (7.25% APR, 720-850 FICO) to $1,037 (17.43% APR, 500-589 FICO). Excellent credit saves nearly $13,000 in interest compared to poor credit. Longer terms lower monthly costs but raise total interest, while bigger down payments cut both.

To lower costs, boost your credit by paying debts on time (35% of your score), keeping credit use low, avoiding new inquiries, and fixing report errors. Opting for a used car also slashes price, insurance, and depreciation. Check your budget and credit before buying.

Check out our debt calculator to simulate a car loan and plan your future.

💰 Be a Better Investor

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

Thomas Tusser

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