Stocks nosedived Thursday, sending the S&P 500 back into correction territory and toward its biggest one-day loss since 2020, after President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs, raising the risk of a global trade war that plunges the economy into a recession.
The broad market index dropped 5%, putting it on track for its worst day since June 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1,630 points, or 3.9%. The Nasdaq Composite plummeted nearly 6% for its biggest decline since March 2020. The slide across equities was broad, with decliners at the New York Stock Exchange outnumbering advancers by six to one.
Thursday’s moves sent the S&P 500 to its lowest level since before Trump’s election win in November, and also erased nearly $2 trillion from the index. The benchmark now sits about 12% from its record close touched in February.