Stock Market Holds Its Breath over Russia-US Talks

Stocks are hovering around the previous day's numbers as the market waits for answers from Friday's talks between Putin and Trump.

Putin and Trump will be meeting Friday to talk about Ukraine.

Quick overview

  • The stock market closed flat on Thursday as investors awaited talks between Trump and Putin regarding Ukraine.
  • The outcome of the discussions could impact U.S.-Russia trade relations, which have been strained due to the Ukraine conflict.
  • Mixed trading is expected as investors remain cautious ahead of the meeting in Alaska, with potential market shifts anticipated on Monday.
  • The Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all showed minimal changes, reflecting a period of uncertainty.

The stock market remained relatively flat on Thursday as trading closed off in anticipation of talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin over the status of Ukraine.

Ukraine will be the deciding factor this week as to how the stock markets move.
Ukraine will be the deciding factor this week as to how the stock markets move.

The Russian President Putin and American President Trump will be discussing what to do about Ukraine today. The two leaders are bringing their financial advisors and diplomatic leaders to deal with the volatile situation there, and these talks are directly affecting the stock market, with all three major indices closing nearly flat on Thursday.

If the talks go well, trade can resume more freely between Russia and the United States. Over the last few years, the United States has all but lost this previously strong trade partner over the issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S government has supplied Ukraine with funds and weapons and levied sanctions against Russia. This includes cutting off credit finance to Russian citizens, and the two powers have butted heads repeatedly over these issues for the last few years.

How the Market Is Likely to React over the Weekend

For the last day of stock market trading for the week, we anticipate that there will be mixed trading, with many investors playing things cautiously as they wait for word from the Russian-U.S. meeting. That is taking place in Alaska, and the talks may not produce immediate results.

Both Trump and Putin have proven that they can be resilient on policy issues, but Russia has been put under tremendous pressure by the U.S. government for several years now and may be ready to give in. That is the best outcome that investors can hope for right now, as it would mean that the U.S. can start to trade more freely with Russia, boosting the economy for both nations.

The Dow Jones closed on Thursday with a drop of 0.02%, and the S&P 500 added 0.03%. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.01%, and with all three indices holding mostly steady, this looks like a period of waiting to see what happens next. All eyes will be on Alaska, and we could see a significant shift in the market on Monday once the talks advance. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Timothy St. John
Financial Writer - European & US Desks
Timothy St John is a seasoned financial analyst and writer, catering to the dynamic landscapes of the US and European markets. Boasting over a decade of extensive freelance writing experience, he has made significant contributions to reputable platforms such as Yahoo!Finance, business.com: Expert Business Advice, Tips, and Resources - Business.com, and numerous others. Timothy's expertise lies in in-depth research and comprehensive coverage of stock and cryptocurrency movements, coupled with a keen understanding of the economic factors influencing currency dynamics. Timothy majored in English at East Tennessee State University, and you can find him on LinkedIn.

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