Trump Tariffs May Focus On Strategic Industries; Nucor, Enphase, Ford, FCX Lead S&P 500 Rally

Trump tariffs may focus narrowly on industries and resources key to national security, including defense-related industries, energy and critical medical supplies, The Washington Post reported early Monday. The report is fueling S&P 500 futures, with Nucor (NUE), Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Enphase Energy (ENPH) among the top gainers amid prospects for tariffs on steel, copper, batteries and solar panels.

Ford Motor (F) and General Motors (GM) are also rallying on hopes that automakers with production in Mexico and Canada might dodge a direct hit from Trump tariffs.

↑ X NOW PLAYING Growth Leaders Shine As Market Rebounds; Block, GE Vernova, Nvidia In Focus

Trump Tariffs: Universal But Narrow?

The report indicated that Trump's economic advisers are honing a plan that would still embody the universal tariffs of up to 20% that he campaigned on. But instead of imposing tariffs on all imports, which could raise inflation and stymie further Federal Reserve rate cuts, they are considering tariffs focused on industries whose protection is a matter of national security.

The tariffs would still apparently be universal in nature, meaning certain categories of goods would face an import tax no matter where they're shipped from. That would avert efforts by countries such as to escape tariffs by rerouting goods through third-party countries before entering the U.S.

The Trump team's reported inclusion of alternative energy as a key industry bodes well for the group as Congress considers whether to roll back alternative energy credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Markets are signaling relief, yet the new approach raises questions. Trump has touted revenue from tariffs as a big component of his fiscal plans. A narrow approach wouldn't raise much, leaving a bigger fiscal hole to fill.

Imposing tariffs on strategic goods that are in short supply could help boost U.S. production in the long run, but potentially exacerbate supply concerns near term.

NUE, ENPH, F, FCX, MP

Steel stocks are among the S&P 500 leaders in early Monday stock market action, with Nucor and Steel Dynamics (STLD) both rising more than 4%. Nucor and other steel stocks have tumbled recently amid weak steel pricing on oversupply concerns.

FCX stock is climbing 4%, with copper futures prices up 3%, with a likely assist from the Trump news.

Enphase, which supplies batteries and advanced microinverter technology that makes solar systems more efficient, is leading a group of solar stocks higher. ENPH, First Solar (FSLR) and Sunrun (RUN) jumped about 4%. SolarEdge (SEDG), an Israel-based rival to Enphase, rallied more than 18%.

MP Materials (MP), the major U.S. producer of rare earth materials used in EV motors and other advanced technologies, surged 9%.

Ford and GM, which had been in the crosshairs of Trump's threat to impose 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, rose about 2.5%. While avoiding a direct hit from tariffs, they could still experience higher steel prices as result of Trump's evolving plan.

S&P 500

S&P 500 futures added 0.8% in early Monday stock market action. The S&P 500 is on track to retake its 50-day moving average.

After rallying 1.3% on Friday, the S&P 500 still slipped 0.5% for the week to end up 2.4% off its Dec. 6 all-time high.

Be sure to read IBD's The Big Picture column after each trading day to get the latest on the prevailing stock market trend and what it means for your trading decisions.

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