US Stock Market Summary for May 30, 2025: Tariff Talks and Market Movements

Market Recap

US stocks rebounded from early losses on Friday, concluding a volatile yet strong month for equities. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) achieved its best performance in May since 1990, with an increase of over 6%. This month marked the best for the index since November 2023. The Dow (^DJI) gained 4% over the month, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq (^IXIC) surged nearly 10%, largely driven by strength in the technology sector.

On the day itself, the Nasdaq reported a slight dip of 0.3%, having recovered from a more significant downturn of over 1.6% earlier in the session. The S&P 500 hovered just below the flat line, while the Dow managed a minor uptick of 0.1%. Overall, despite facing a turbulent trading environment, all three major indices wrapped up both the week and the month in positive territory.

Trade Tensions with China

Compounding market movements were fresh reports that the Trump administration is planning to intensify tech restrictions on China, aiming to close existing loopholes that allow entities to bypass sanctions. The proposed measure would necessitate government licenses for transactions involving companies majority-owned by firms on the Entity List. This announcement comes shortly after President Trump criticized China in a social media post, accusing it of violating a recent trade agreement.

Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, noted that US-China trade talks appear to be stalling, emphasizing the need for a phone call between President Trump and China’s President Xi to facilitate progress.

Stock Movements

The uncertainty surrounding tariffs impacted specific stocks such as Nvidia (NVDA), which saw its shares fall by 3.5% amid fears of a return to heightened trade tensions. The company's challenges include a recent $8 billion revenue loss due to a ban on exports of its less powerful GPUs to China. Analyst Gil Luria expressed concern that China remains the largest overhang on NVDA shares until a resolution is reached.

In other market-related events, Regeneron (REGN) shares plummeted over 18% following news that its experimental drug for smoker's lung failed in late-stage trials, despite showing some promise in earlier tests. On a more positive note, Ulta Beauty (ULTA) shares jumped 8.3% in after-hours trading after beating earnings expectations, while The Gap (GAP) stock fell nearly 15% due to potential tariff impacts despite reporting strong revenue and earnings per share.

Consumer Sentiment

Meanwhile, consumer sentiment in May stabilized, as Americans expressed growing optimism regarding the economy, aided by pauses in tariff implementations. The University of Michigan’s final consumer sentiment reading revealed that sentiment did not change from the previous month, halting a four-month streak of declines. Long-run inflation expectations decreased slightly, providing a room for market optimism.

Looking Ahead

As June approaches, market participants are keenly watching economic indicators and developments in US-China trade relations. The mixed affiliations of tariff policies and economic forecasts will play a significant role in shaping investor sentiment, as stocks continue to navigate these complexities.