Stocks Slide as Tariff Turmoil Returns and Iran Talks Loom

​Futures Turn Lower After Trade Shock
U.S. stock futures dropped sharply at the start of the week, with Dow contracts down about half a percent, the S&P 500 off roughly six-tenths of a percent, and Nasdaq futures sinking close to seven-tenths. Markets are reacting to fresh uncertainty around trade policy after a Supreme Court decision invalidated the administration’s most sweeping tariffs, leaving investors guessing what comes next.

Tariff Policy Back in Flux
Hopes that trade tensions might ease were quickly complicated. Over the weekend, the White House signaled it would lift the baseline tariff on imports from ten percent to fifteen percent, effective immediately, though details remain murky. The legal and political tug-of-war has thrown global trade agreements into question and injected fresh volatility into markets that had just stabilized.

Geopolitics Add to the Pressure
Trade isn’t the only risk on investors’ radar. Talks between Washington and Tehran are set to resume this week, with warnings that failure to reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program could carry consequences. Oil prices slipped after a strong run last week, reflecting both geopolitical uncertainty and shifting demand expectations.

Safe Havens Catch a Bid, Crypto Slips
The broader reaction underscores the unease. Gold and silver moved higher as investors sought shelter, while Bitcoin fell below sixty-five thousand dollars amid renewed tariff instability. Chinese equities, by contrast, gained as traders weighed how trade disruptions could reshape existing agreements.

Earnings in the Spotlight
​Amid the macro noise, corporate results still matter. Nvidia headlines the week with earnings on Wednesday, alongside Salesforce, while Home Depot offers a read on consumer strength. With policy uncertainty back in focus, markets are entering the week on the defensive — and looking to earnings for something more concrete than politics.