Last week, stocks experienced significant volatility, driven by the ongoing trade war and tariff plans.

Although there was an initial surge following a 90-day tariff pause, the gains were short-lived as China and the US introduced further penalties. A positive development emerged in the form of March’s Consumer Price Index declining to 2.4%, under the 2.6% forecast, allowing potential maneuverability for the Federal Reserve on interest rates. However, FOMC Meeting minutes highlighted inflationary concerns, and a weakening labor picture, evidenced by rising jobless claims, added to market pressures.

Next week, investors will closely monitor the tariff backdrop and key housing market indicators, with building permits and housing starts having shown recent strength amid lower mortgage rates. Retail sales, which rose by 0.2% in February 2025, are projected to jump by 1.1% in March. Additional attention will be on regional manufacturing data, likely reflecting ongoing tariff pressures, and a series of Federal Reserve governors’ speeches that may offer insights into the future direction of monetary policy.

Given this economic backdrop, let us see how this impacts the performance of various investment strategies.