Trump's first 50 days: Stocks suffer worst start to a presidential term since 2009 (MarketWatch)
Market volatility is likely to persist until there’s greater clarity on Trump’s tariff policy: Glenmede
By Isabel Wang
Last Updated: March 10, 2025 at 4:45 p.m. ET
First Published: March 10, 2025 at 1:02 p.m. ET
The U.S. stock market has been on a roller-coaster ride ever since Donald Trump returned to the White House as the 47th president of the United States. The first 50 days of his second term brought heightened volatility to financial markets already worried about slowing economic growth in the world’s largest economy.
U.S. stocks on Monday logged their weakest first 50 days of a presidency since 2009 — when President Barack Obama assumed the mantle in the midst of the global financial crisis — according to Dow Jones Market Data. As of Monday afternoon, the large-cap S&P 500 index SPX -0.98% had tumbled 6.4% since Jan. 20, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite COMP -0.51% had slumped 11% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA -1.40%
was off 3.6% in the same period, according to FactSet data.
History shows that stocks have tended to fall in the first 50 days of a presidential term. Since 1953, the S&P 500 has delivered an average return of minus 0.4% during this period, while the Nasdaq has logged an average 3.1% slump in the 50-day span. The blue-chip Dow has registered a modest 0.5% average gain in the same 50-day period since inaugurations dating back to 1953, according to Dow Jones Market Data (see table below).
https://images.mktw.net/im-35900988?width=540&size=1.049518569463549
Stocks have been on a bumpy ride in the early months of 2025. The Cboe Volatility Index VIX +4.34% — known as the VIX or Wall Street’s “fear gauge” — has surged over 60% so far this year to trade at 27.84 on Monday afternoon, its highest level since August, according to FactSet data. In general, a VIX reading below 20 suggests a perceived low-risk environment in the financial markets, while a reading above 20 is indicative of a period of higher volatility.
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more, including analysis: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trumps-first-50-days-stocks-heading-toward-worst-start-to-a-presidential-term-since-2009-3f89fa9e?mod=us-market-data (spoiler alert: tariffs are to blame)