U.S. Stock Market Live Updates: Jobs Report, Fed Chair Powell’s Speech, and Trade Policy Impact
Stay updated on U.S. stock market trends as futures rise ahead of the jobs report and Jerome Powell’s speech. Get the latest on trade policies, Bitcoin fluctuations, and Broadcom’s strong earnings forecast.

U.S. stock futures are showing modest gains as investors prepare for a key jobs report and remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Market sentiment remains cautious, with ongoing uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s shifting trade policies.
Ahead of the market open, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are ticking up, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are also seeing slight gains. This comes after a turbulent session that pushed the Nasdaq into correction territory. Investors are closely watching the February jobs report, which is expected to provide insight into hiring trends and the stability of the unemployment rate. With recent economic data showing signs of weakness, speculation is growing around potential interest rate cuts, making this report especially significant.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming speech is also in focus, as investors look for clues on how the central bank views Trump’s tariffs and inflation risks. His remarks will be one of the last key insights before the Fed’s March 18-19 policy meeting, where decisions on interest rates could be made. Meanwhile, trade uncertainty continues to weigh on the market. Trump’s temporary pause on tariffs for goods from Mexico and Canada until April has done little to calm investor nerves. Canada has responded by delaying its own set of retaliatory tariffs, while Mexico’s response remains unclear. However, Mexico’s decision to review tariffs on Chinese goods could be seen as a strategic move that aligns with Trump’s trade policies.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin has pulled back below $90,000 after reaching record highs earlier in the week. The drop follows Trump’s authorization of a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve, a move that has drawn attention ahead of his planned “crypto summit.”
On the corporate side, Broadcom shares are surging in premarket trading after the company issued a strong second-quarter forecast, reflecting continued demand for AI-powered technology. As the day unfolds, investors will be closely tracking the jobs report, Powell’s comments, and trade developments to gauge the market’s next move.
Also Read: Top Stocks to Watch in March 2025: Nvidia, Tesla, Target & Market Trends
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Nvidia’s Market Value Drops $1 Trillion from Its Peak
Nvidia (NVDA), once riding high on the AI boom, has lost around $1 trillion in market value since reaching its record peak in early January.
On Friday, the stock dipped over 2% as selling pressure on Wall Street grew. Back on January 6, Nvidia shares closed at an all-time high of $149.43, but they have since fallen to around $107, bringing the company’s total market value down to about $2.6 trillion.
The decline started gaining traction in late January after Chinese startup DeepSeek introduced a competing AI chat model. This raised doubts about the high prices investors were willing to pay for U.S. chipmakers, leading to a broader pullback in Nvidia’s stock.
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Bitcoin Jumps to $91,000 as Investors Watch White House Crypto Summit
Bitcoin (BTC-USD) surged past $90,000 on Friday, reaching nearly $91,000 as investors looked ahead to a major White House crypto summit happening later in the day.
The meeting will bring together key industry leaders, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and MicroStrategy's executive chairman Michael Saylor, to discuss the future of cryptocurrency regulations and policies.
Adding to the excitement, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to create a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve. This reserve will be funded using bitcoin seized by the government through legal cases. Reports estimate that the U.S. currently holds around 200,000 bitcoins, with a full audit now required.
With growing government involvement in crypto, Bitcoin’s latest jump signals increased market interest in how these policies could shape the future of digital assets.
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Tesla Stock Drops, Erasing Nearly All Post-Election Gains
Tesla (TSLA) shares fell over 3% on Friday, putting the stock on track to lose nearly all the gains it made after the presidential election. Currently trading near $255 per share, Tesla is approaching its Nov. 5, 2024, closing price of $251.44.
The stock initially surged on Election Day, as investors believed CEO Elon Musk’s ties to the new administration could benefit the company. However, that early optimism has faded.
Rising trade tensions and persistent inflation have shaken investor confidence, leading to a broader market downturn. As a result, Tesla’s post-election rally has nearly disappeared, reflecting growing economic uncertainty.
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Construction Hiring Rises in February, but Unemployment Also Increases
The construction industry saw a boost in hiring last month, even as unemployment within the sector edged higher—a sign that labor supply is keeping up with demand.
According to the latest Labor Department report, construction companies added 19,000 jobs in February, a notable jump from the modest 4,000 jobs gained in January. This marks the strongest hiring month for the industry since the third quarter of 2024.
However, the construction unemployment rate also climbed to 7.2%, significantly higher than the overall national rate of 4.1%.
This suggests that while job opportunities are growing, more workers are entering the labor market, helping to meet demand.
Some experts warn that potential cuts in government jobs and spending could eventually impact construction hiring, but those effects have not yet shown up in the latest employment data. For now, the industry continues to expand, supported by strong labor availability.
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Stocks Start the Day Lower as Market Weakness Continues
The stock market opened in negative territory on Friday, extending a tough week for investors.
The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.4%. The Nasdaq Composite saw a smaller decline, edging down 0.1%.
With markets struggling to gain momentum, investors remain cautious amid economic uncertainty and ongoing volatility.
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Stock Market Set for Worst Week Since September as Losses Pile Up
Stocks are on track for their worst week in months, with major indexes facing sharp declines as investor worries grow.
So far this week, the Nasdaq Composite has dropped 4.1%, making it the biggest loser among the three indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has fallen 2.9%, while the S&P 500 is down 3.6%.
With just one trading day left, uncertainty around the economy, Federal Reserve policies, and trade tensions continue to weigh on the market. If losses hold, this will mark the worst week for stocks since September, adding to concerns about what’s next for Wall Street.