Dow Futures Drop 350 Points Amid Tariff Concerns, Economic Outlook

U.S. stock futures declined on Monday, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all pointing to a lower open as renewed concerns over President Trump's tariff policies and ongoing trade tensions with China weighed on investor sentiment. The lack of progress on global trade negotiations and fears that tariffs could lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth have contributed to market volatility, with major indexes logging multiple weekly losses. Uncertainty is further heightened by President Trump's public criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and discussions within the White House about potentially removing him, raising concerns about the Fed's independence. Market observers and analysts have emphasized the urgent need for trade agreements to stabilize markets, as first-quarter earnings season for major companies like Tesla and Alphabet approaches. In addition to trade policy anxieties, yields on U.S. Treasuries have risen, and the dollar has weakened, reflecting broader economic uncertainty. Other notable market developments include delays in Tesla's product launches and regulatory approval for major financial mergers.