Nasdaq posts worst day in a month, S&P 500 turns negative for 2025 ahead of PCE inflation report

U.S. stocks lost their grip on earlier gains to end sharply lower Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite posting its worst day in about a month and the S&P 500 turning negative for the year. The market’s jitters came ahead of a closely followed inflation update on Friday, and as concerns have risen over President Trump’s threats of fresh trade tariffs to start next week against Canada, Mexico and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 193.62 points, or 0.5%, ending at 43,239.50. The S&P 500 shed 94.49 points, or 1.6%, closing at 5,861.57 and turning negative for the year. The Nasdaq Composite plunged 2.8%, finishing at 18,544.42. That was its biggest one-day percentage decline since it tumbled 3.1% on Jan. 27, according to Dow Jones Market Data. Investors have been nervous not only about the potential impact that tariffs could have on inflation, but also on U.S. economic growth.