US stocks experienced volatility in April 2025 due to renewed tariff concerns, criticism of Amazon, and the release of key economic data. The US administration's stance on trade and its scrutiny of major companies like Amazon continue to influence market sentiment.
The US trade deficit widened to $162 billion in March, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, up from $147.8 billion in February. This increase could potentially lead to further trade actions. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), a measure of market uncertainty, reached 26.47 in April 2025. The dollar's performance has also been closely watched amid these economic developments.
European equity markets displayed mixed performance. The FTSE 100 saw gains driven by materials and financial stocks. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca reported its Q1 2025 financial results, with total revenue up 10% to $13.588 billion. CEO Pascal Soriot noted the company has entered an unprecedented catalyst-rich period. However, investors remain attentive to potential impacts from US pharma tariffs, given AstraZeneca's significant revenue from the US market.