Market Talk Roundup: Latest on U.S. Politics
Market Talks covering the impact of U.S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day. 1741 ET - The Trump administration's flurry of U.S. tariffs didn't stop imports from rising last year thanks to a glut of spending on AI infrastructure and an early rush to import before tariffs took effect, according to an analysis from the Dallas Fed. The average U.S. tariff rate increased by almost 12 percentage points in 2025, the largest jump since the Great Depression, creating an expectation that spending on U.S. imports would decline sharply, Fed researchers say. Instead, U.S. imports grew by 4.5% last year, they say. Were it not for heightened AI-related importing and countries front-running to beat tariff impositions early in the year, U.S. import growth would've likely been negative, the researchers say. (dean.seal@wsj.com) 1421 ET - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are hitting new highs in an upswing for markets that could get another boost from Washington soon, WEBs Investments' Ben Fulton says in a note. With Republicans expected to lose the House, and potentially the Senate as well, political gridlock may take h
S. Politics and White House policies on companies and markets. Published exclusively on Dow Jones Newswires throughout the day. S.
tariffs didn't stop imports from rising last year thanks to a glut of spending on AI infrastructure and an early rush to import before tariffs took effect, according to an analysis from the Dallas Fed. S. S. imports would decline sharply, Fed researchers say.
S. 5% last year, they say. S. import growth would've likely been negative, the researchers say.
com) 1421 ET - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq are hitting new highs in an upswing for markets that could get another boost from Washington soon, WEBs Investments' Ben Fulton says in a note. With Republicans expected to lose the House, and potentially the Senate as well, political gridlock may take hold in the month ahead, if it hasn't already, Fulton says. A stalemated Congress might generate fewer headlines, shifting investor focus away from politics and toward the economy and corporate performance, he says. "For now, the combination offers a compelling backdrop for continued market strength," Fulton says.
S. farmers struggling with rising input costs. Red-dyed diesel is already being used by farmers to power farm machinery like tractors and combines, so the savings really goes to farmers transporting their harvests via trucks. But there's a way for this to backfire on farmers, says Jim Wiesemeyer of Ag Bull in a note.
"Opening those inventories to additional highway customers could also increase competition for supplies at rural distributors during harvest," he says. 3%. com) 1106 ET - Large trucking operators probably won't take advantage of the federal tax deferral for on-road use of dyed diesel given the complications, GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan says on X. "Interstate trucking means a patchwork of state rules and tax headaches, and most major truck stops don't sell dyed diesel," he says.
4 cents a gallon excise tax won't change much at the pump, he adds. S. diesel futures are lower after President Trump signed an order allowing temporary on-road use of dyed-red diesel with the corresponding federal excise tax deferred through the end of the year, and the deferred payment possibly later eliminated. "Red diesel" is untaxed for off-road use such as in farming and construction.
The latest measure that seeks to reduce prices for truckers "appears to be adding to today's shift in diesel futures leadership back to the downside and away from the upside," Ritterbusch & Associates says in a note. But the measure "appears to be another band aid" as the diesel problem is driven mainly by disrupted supply through the Strait of Hormuz, the firm adds. 4295 a gallon. com) 1022 ET - The demand for AI-related goods continues to push up imports, according to Oxford Economics in a note.
S. 8 billion in July. That's the largest trade deficit since March 2025, when frontloading ahead of the Trump administration's tariff implementation was in full swing, Oxford says. S.
S. goods. com) 0858 ET - Treasury yields slip as a global bond selloff eases amid a 3% decline in oil prices. Borrowing costs, however, remain close to recent highs, as markets worry about inflation, government spending and corporate borrowing.
S. 6 billion. The Treasury is auctioning $58 billion in three-year notes and elevated yields are expected to ensure robust demand. 310%, which was the highest since April 2002.
831%. com; @ptrevisani) 0651 ET - The dollar eases as the euro recovers after French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen promised to reduce the public deficit. Le Pen, who is ahead in opinion polls for next year's elections, unveiled detailed plans of a 140 billion euro package of spending cuts and tax rises. 761%, according to Tradeweb.
1160 Monday, LSEG data show. 535 Monday. com) (END) Dow Jones Newswires October 06, 2026 17:41 ET (21:41 GMT) Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. The statements in this document shall not be considered as an objective or independent explanation of the matters.
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