Wall Street Slips Toward Weekly Loss as Trade Uncertainty and Intel Forecast Weigh on Markets

By Anietie Anii-Bassey

U.S. stocks drifted lower Friday as investors looked to close out a volatile week marked by sharp swings tied to trade rhetoric, geopolitical tensions and shifting expectations for global monetary policy.

The S&P 500 edged down 0.1% in early trading and was on course to post its second straight modest weekly decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 258 points, or about 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite hovered near unchanged levels.

Trading in bond and currency markets was comparatively calm after dramatic moves earlier in the week, suggesting that some of the week’s anxiety had begun to subside.

Technology shares were a focal point after Intel tumbled sharply, dropping 13% following the release of a quarterly outlook that fell short of Wall Street projections.

Although the chipmaker nearly doubled analysts’ profit estimates for the current quarter, executives warned that supply constraints could disrupt production and limit revenue growth, unnerving investors who had hoped for clearer signs of stability in the semiconductor sector.

The subdued tone in equities followed a turbulent stretch in which markets lurched in response to statements from President Donald Trump regarding potential tariffs on several NATO allies over their opposition to U.S. ambitions in Greenland.

Earlier in the week, threats of higher duties rattled investors before Trump abruptly reversed course, saying he had reached a preliminary understanding with NATO leaders on Arctic security. The lack of details surrounding that announcement left traders uncertain about what policy changes might ultimately emerge.

Before the opening bell Friday, futures for the Dow were down 0.2%, while contracts tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each slipped about 0.1%, signaling a cautious start to the session.

Energy markets were also closely watched after natural gas prices cooled following an earlier surge linked to forecasts for a powerful winter storm expected to blanket large portions of the United States with snow and ice.

The system could threaten power supplies for millions of households, adding another layer of uncertainty for utilities and energy producers.

Overseas markets were mixed. In Europe, Germany’s DAX inched up 0.1% by midday, while France’s CAC 40 slipped 0.3% and Britain’s FTSE 100 traded little changed, reflecting a wait-and-see approach among investors on both sides of the Atlantic.

Asian markets posted broader gains overnight. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.3% to 53,846.87 after the Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, following a hike to 0.75% in December.

The central bank also modestly raised its outlook for inflation and economic growth, fueling speculation that further tightening could come later this year.

“With underlying inflation pressures remaining firm, we expect the Bank of Japan to resume its tightening cycle in the coming months,” said Abhijit Surya of Capital Economics.

Chinese stocks also advanced, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index climbing 0.5% to 26,749.51 and the Shanghai Composite adding 0.3% to 4,136.16. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 0.8% to 4,990.07, hovering near record territory after briefly topping the 5,000 mark a day earlier.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged up 0.1% to 8,860.10, while Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.7%. India’s Sensex, however, fell 0.9%, bucking the regional trend.

Global financial markets have steadied in recent days after a retreat in long-term Japanese government bond yields, which had surged earlier in the week amid worries that Tokyo might pursue policies that would further expand the nation’s already heavy debt load.

The yield on Japan’s 40-year government bond slipped back below 4% after briefly touching record highs, trading around 3.946% early Friday.

In commodities trading, precious metals rallied as investors sought perceived safe havens. Gold rose 0.6% to $4,945 an ounce, while silver surged 3.3% and edged closer to the $100 mark, underscoring heightened demand for defensive assets during periods of uncertainty.

Oil prices also advanced. U.S. benchmark crude gained $1.13 to $60.49 a barrel, and Brent crude, the international standard, climbed $1.19 to $65.25 a barrel.

Taken together, the week’s market moves reflected lingering unease about geopolitics, energy supplies and the path of interest rates worldwide, even as investors attempted to regain their footing after several days of whipsaw trading.