Wall Street Surges as Trump Temporarily Halts Tariff Hikes Amid Trade War Fears:

A surprise announcement from President Donald Trump triggered a major stock market rally Wednesday as he paused most of the new tariffs. Wall Street responded with rapid gains, with the S&P 500 soaring 9.5%—its biggest single-day rise since October 2008.

“This moved fast—unreal,” said Jonathan Corpina, senior managing partner at Meridian Equity Partners. Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange were caught off guard, shouting as updates spread across the room. “Is it real?” Corpina added.

NYSE Traders React to Unexpected Shift

The news arrived just 13 hours after the U.S. implemented higher tariffs on 56 countries and the European Union. Trump then issued a 90-day pause, giving the markets much-needed relief.

“It was shock and awe,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. The move caught even the most seasoned market professionals by surprise.

Uncertainty Lingers Despite Market Boost

While the pause offers short-term relief, the earlier 10% tariffs remain in place, and the conflict with China continues. China has already responded with retaliatory tariffs, hiking rates on U.S. imports by as much as 84%, which were later raised to 125%.

“This is only a pause, not a resolution,” said Woods. “The market’s taken a hit, and recovery won't be immediate.”

Investors Remain Cautious Amid Policy Volatility

Many investors are torn between risk and caution. While some bought high-volatility stocks expecting gains, others chose safer dividend-paying shares due to lingering doubts.

“We’ve seen this before,” said Corpina, who has worked through past market crises, including the 2008 financial meltdown and the Covid-19 crash. “Everything can change in an instant—with a tweet or headline.”