FX.co ★ US Stocks Lose Momentum

On Tuesday, U.S. stocks, following a promising early surge, lost steam by the afternoon. Initial optimism regarding global tariff discussions was overshadowed by renewed skepticism surrounding trade policies. White House Press Secretary Leavitt emphasized the administration's firm position, labeling the extensive tariffs as "non-negotiable" due to national security concerns. As a result, the S&P 500 pared its gains, hovering just above its previous level. The Dow Jones maintained an increase of just over 200 points, while the Nasdaq rose approximately 0.3%. Earlier advancements were fueled by news that over 70 countries, such as Japan and South Korea, were keen on entering discussions. Nonetheless, the absence of concrete progress combined with China's persistent resistance, pledging to "fight to the end," kept geopolitical tensions prominent. This situation led investors to adjust their expectations for a prompt resolution. On another note, UnitedHealth Group's shares soared by 7.7% following the U.S. government's announcement of higher-than-anticipated reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage plans.