Wall Street stocks fell on Thursday amid escalating uncertainty regarding U.S. trade policies. President Trump s shifting tariff exemptions contributed to investor confusion, significantly impacting various sectors. The Nasdaq entered a correction phase, and the CBOE Volatility Index reached its highest level since December.

President Trump has signed an executive order creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a stockpile of other digital assets, using Bitcoin already owned and forfeited by the federal government. This move does not involve spending taxpayer money, and the reserve will not acquire additional assets beyond those obtained through forfeiture proceedings.

Attendees at Friday s White House crypto summit expect the event to serve as a stage for Trump to formally announce his plans to build a strategic reserve containing bitcoin and four other cryptocurrencies. Earlier this week, Trump announced the names of five digital assets he expects to include in this reserve, spiking the market value of each. The five are bitcoin, ether, XRP, solana and cardano, the president said.

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller opposes a rate cut at the upcoming policy meeting. He suggests future cuts are possible if inflation pressures decrease. Waller wants more data, especially on inflation and tariffs, before making a decision. Financial markets expect a possible rate cut by June amid rising concerns over the economic outlook.

The U.S. dollar remains near a four-month low due to uncertainty surrounding shifting tariff policies and concerns about economic growth prospects. Investors await U.S. jobs data for further insights. The euro continues its upward trend, boosted by rising European bond yields, while predictions suggest the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates further.

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Kalpataru Projects International and its subsidiaries have secured new orders worth Rs 2,306 crore, including transmission and distribution projects abroad and building projects in India. The company s CEO highlights the strengthened order book and market position, with FY25 intake reaching around Rs 22,500 crore.

Sunil D Souza, MD & CEO of Tata Consumer, explains that tax cuts and reduced inflation have spurred growth, with Tata s urban trade and e-commerce almost hitting double digits. He predicts a revival in volume growth, emphasizing the importance of both mass market and premium products. Starbucks India aims for 1,000 stores by FY28.

Experts advise investors navigating the current market cycle to focus on bottom-up stock picking with sharp attention to valuations due to increased polarisation in earnings and stock performance. Broad-based rallies are expected to be limited, emphasizing the need to select high-quality individual stocks.

Deutsche Bank (DB) and Barclays are syndicating the fundraising at a likely 12-13%, and they could also tap Keppel Credit, Elham Credit Partners, and Broadpeak Capital for participation.