5 Crucial Market Updates Before the Stock Market Opens – April 2, 2025

By: Sayan

Published on: Apr 02, 2025

Introduction

As investors gear up for another trading day, U.S. stock futures indicate a cautious start amid anticipation of new tariffs from President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Tesla prepares to report Q1 deliveries, Visa makes a $100 million play for Apple’s credit card business, and stablecoin giant Circle files for an IPO. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the five key market-moving events you need to know before the stock market opens today.

U.S. Stock Futures Dip Ahead of Tariffs Announcement

U.S. stock futures are trending lower as investors brace for potential market volatility following President Trump’s expected tariff announcement later today.

Key Market Indicators:

• Nasdaq futures down 0.8% (after a 0.9% gain Tuesday)


• Dow Jones & S&P 500 futures down ~0.5%


• Bitcoin (BTC) hovers near $85,000


• 10-year Treasury yield slips below 4.15%


• Oil futures decline, while gold edges higher

Why This Matters:

• New tariffs could impact import costs, inflation, and corporate earnings.


• A weaker jobs report might reinforce expectations of Fed rate cuts later this year.

Trump’s Tariff Plan: What to Expect at 4 PM ET

• President Donald Trump is set to announce a new tariff proposal at a White House event today at 4 PM ET. Reports suggest the administration is considering:


• Reciprocal tariffs (matching foreign import taxes on U.S. goods).


• A broad 20% tariff on nearly all imported products (per The Washington Post).

Potential Market Impact:

• Retaliatory tariffs from trading partners could hurt U.S. exporters.


• Higher import costs may fuel inflation, delaying Fed rate cuts.


• Tech & auto stocks (reliant on global supply chains) could see volatility.

Investor Takeaway: Watch for sector-specific reactions, particularly in manufacturing, tech, and consumer goods.

Tesla (TSLA) Stock Slides Ahead of Q1 Deliveries Report

Tesla (TSLA) shares fell 2.5% in premarket trading as the EV giant prepares to release its Q1 2025 delivery numbers.

Key Expectations:

• Estimated deliveries: 393,000 (up <2% YoY, but down from Q4’s 495,570).


• Stock performance: TSLA has lost ~33% of its value in 2025.

Why Tesla is Struggling:

• Elon Musk’s political involvement (working with Trump’s administration) raising investor concerns.


• Slowing EV demand and rising competition in China & Europe.

What to Watch:

• If deliveries miss estimates, expect further downside.


• Any updates on new models (e.g., $25K compact car) could boost sentiment.

Visa (V) Bids $100M for Apple’s Credit Card Business

Visa (V) has offered Apple (AAPL) ~$100 million to become the payment network for its credit card, per The Wall Street Journal.

The Battle for Apple’s Card:

• Current network: Mastercard (MA) (fighting to retain its role).


• Competitors: American Express (AXP) also in the running.


• Potential issuers: JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Synchrony (SYF), Capital One (COF).

Why This Deal Matters:

• Apple’s credit card (powered by Goldman Sachs) has millions of users.


• Visa gaining this deal could strengthen its fintech dominance.


• Mastercard losing the contract could hurt its growth prospects.

Circle (USDC Stablecoin Issuer) Files for IPO

Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has officially filed for an IPO under ticker "CRCL" on the NYSE.

Key Financials:

• 2024 Net Income: $155.7M\ast \ast (downfrom\ast \ast$267.6M in 2023).


• Previous Plans: Attempted a SPAC merger in 2021 (failed due to market conditions).

Why Circle’s IPO is Significant:

• USDC is the 2nd-largest stablecoin (after Tether’s USDT).


• A successful IPO could boost crypto market legitimacy.


• Regulatory scrutiny on stablecoins remains a risk factor.

Final Thoughts: How to Trade Today’s Market

1. Trump’s tariff announcement (after market close).


2. Tesla’s delivery numbers (could swing TSLA stock).


3. Visa-Apple deal developments (impacting fintech stocks).

Actionable Trading Ideas:

✅ Defensive plays (utilities, gold) if tariffs spark volatility.
✅ Tech & EV stocks (watch TSLA, AAPL for post-news moves).
✅ Crypto-correlated stocks (if Circle’s IPO boosts sentiment).