Monday’s trading session turned chaotic after an unverified report hinted at a potential 90-day pause on tariffs by the White House. This speculation, originating from comments made by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Fox News, initially propelled stocks higher. However, just 30 minutes later, the White House quickly labeled the report as fake news, causing the market to swiftly reverse direction.

A Shocking Intraday Reversal

• Initial Optimism:
  Following the rumor, the market saw a temporary uplift, with some indexes gaining nearly 3% as investors clung to hopes of reduced tariff pressure.

• Quick Decline:
  As the White House dismissed the claims, investor sentiment soured. By 10:50 a.m. EST (14:50 GMT), the S&P 500 plummeted 80 points or 1.5%, showing that indexes like the Nasdaq and S&P 500 that had previously been down 4% were still in a vulnerable state.

• Market Sensitivity:
  This rapid market shift highlights the delicate psychology of today’s investors and their reactions to news—confirmed or otherwise—stemming from ongoing trade policy concerns that have previously rocked global markets.

The Technical Perspective

The significant intraday swings signal an underlying volatility that investors must analyze through intraday technical indicators like the Williams %R to gauge overbought or oversold markets. Such real-time metrics help decode potential market turning points amid continued turbulence.

The Bigger Picture

This incident serves as a powerful reminder of how swiftly market sentiment can shift around news—highlighting the urgency for accurate information during investment decision-making. Although the rumors were swiftly related to fake reporting, the episode reflects investors’ sensitivity to any hint of easing trade tensions.

As the landscape of U.S. trade policy evolves, investors must remain cautious. In a landscape fraught with turbulent tariff-related uncertainties, even fleeting rumors can trigger profound market movements.