The Russell 2000, which includes small companies that are more sensitive to downdrafts in the economy than those in the S&P 500, appears likely to enter a bear market.

Tariffs will be a headwind to corporate earnings since businesses have only two options: Absorb the cost increases, or pass the cost increases along.

President Donald Trump recently expanded exemptions on tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico. The temporary relief has sparked cautious optimism among businesses, but trade tensions have continued to create uncertainty.

The time to do a portfolio rebalance generally is not in the midst of a market downturn. But what you may want to do if you're years away from retirement is ride out this wave of volatility, and then do a checkup once things settle.

The America-first White House doesn’t seem bothered by a last-place stock market. It didn’t take long for U.S. stocks to fall from global favorites to laggards. Just weeks into 2025, the S&P 500 has ceded its leadership to international indexes and no one in Washington has blinked.