April has been a blockbuster month of economic and corporate turbulence. From sweeping U.S. tariffs sparking a global trade war to significant M&A activity and reverse splits, here’s your comprehensive digest of everything important since April 2, 2025.
⚠️ MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
1. U.S. Declares Economic National Emergency
President Trump invoked IEEPA to impose:
- 10% baseline tariffs on all imports
-
34% "reciprocal" tariff on Chinese goods
Effective: April 5
2. China’s Retaliation
China hit back with:
-
34% tariff on all U.S. imports
Effective: April 10 - Export controls on rare earth materials (key for tech & aerospace)
3. Global Markets Plunge
In just 48 hours:
- S&P 500 lost $5 trillion
- Dow dropped 2,200+ points
- Nasdaq fell 5.8%
- European and Asian indices followed suit
4. Oil Takes a Hit
Global slowdown fears caused:
- Oil prices to drop ~4%
- Brent forecast revised to $60/barrel
5. BlackRock CEO’s Warning
Larry Fink:
“Stock markets could fall another 20%, and the U.S. may already be in a recession.”
6. Fed Stays Neutral
Jerome Powell stated:
- The Fed is watching closely
- No immediate rate change
- Will respond if situation worsens
7. Singapore Prepares for Easing
MAS likely to loosen policy as trade disruptions hit exports
8. EU Finance Leaders React
Emergency summit planned to counteract U.S. tariffs' ripple effects
9. Recession Fears Spike
Goldman Sachs updated odds:
- 45% probability of U.S. recession in 2025
10. Emerging Market Shock
Indian Rupee weakened sharply
Asian equities down heavily across the board
📉 CORPORATE ACTIONS ROUNDUP (Post-April 2)
🔻 Reverse Stock Splits
- VCI Global (VCIG): 1-for-20 reverse split (Apr 2)
- MarketWise (MKTW): 1-for-20 reverse split (Apr 3)
🔼 New Listings
- Smartstop Self Storage (SMA)
-
Top Win International (TOPW)
Listed: Apr 2
🔃 Mergers & Acquisitions
- Nevro Corp (NVRO) acquired by Globus Medical
- Intra-Cellular Therapies (ITCI) acquired by Johnson & Johnson
- Desktop Metal (DM) acquired by Nano Dimension
🔻 Delistings
- Territorial Bancorp (TBNK) (post-acquisition by HOPE)
- SHL Telemedicine (SHLT)
- Nevro Corp (NVRO) (post-acquisition)
🔄 Symbol Changes
- Aptose Biosciences (APTO) → APTOF
📅 Upcoming Dividends & Meetings
- Mazagon Dock: Interim dividend board meet (Apr 8)
- Oracle Financial Services: AGM scheduled (Apr 9)
📈 MARKET MOVERS & STOCK RESPONSES
🟢 Winners
- PVH Corp (PVH): +8.2% after EPS beat
- Progress Software (PRGS): +12.1% on Q1 surprise
- Roblox (RBLX): +4.6% after immersive ad partnership with Google
🔴 Losers
- Most large-cap stocks saw 5–10% dips post-tariff
- Tech, logistics, and import-heavy companies most impacted
🔍BIG TAKEAWAYS
💥 Trade war is real — U.S. and China are now locked in tit-for-tat tariffs, shaking the global economy.
📉 Recession fears rising — Institutional investors warn of sharp economic slowdown, and markets reflect the tension.
💸 Fed is on pause — No rate changes yet, but signs point to potential cuts later in the year if damage continues.
🔄 M&A is heating up — Despite volatility, strategic acquisitions and consolidations are actively reshaping industries.
🛑 Corporate shifts — Several companies delisted, changed tickers, or restructured shares amid the chaos.
🚨 Markets are nervous — Record-breaking volatility continues. Keep an eye on commodities, FX, and central banks globally.
If you're a trader, investor, policymaker, or curious economic mind — this month is a case study in global interdependence and a masterclass on how geopolitics meets corporate action.