Wall Street experienced a rally Monday as President Donald Trump signaled a more targeted approach to tariffs expected to take effect on April 2, potentially offering exemptions for certain countries.

The Details: Trump indicated that he might exempt some countries from the tariffs, stating, "I may give a lot of countries breaks." This more measured approach, referred to by Trump as "reciprocal tariffs," boosted the risk appetite among investors who had been apprehensive about potential negative impacts of the tariffs. Trump further hinted that additional tariffs on specific goods, including automobiles, lumber, and semiconductors, could be introduced as early as this week.

For Context: The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 1.4%, the S&P 500 by 1.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite by 2.3%, marking its highest level since March 7. Stocks that have been heavily affected by the tariff-related pullback, such as Tesla, led the rally with a 12% surge. The tariffs are part of Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" strategy, aimed at reducing trade imbalances with other countries. As the tariff imposition date approaches, however, there have been suggestions of potential flexibility in their application.

How The Media Covered It: The New York Post (Lean Right bias) highlighted the market's response to Trump's comments, reporting that Wall Street "roared back to life" following the signals for a more measured approach on tariffs. Bloomberg (Lean Left) focused on the upcoming tariffs on automobile imports and Trump's indications that nations may receive breaks from the reciprocal tariffs. Forbes (Center) pointed out the stock market bounce as investors perceived Trump's tariffs might not be as severe as initially thought, with the rally led by big technology stocks. All three outlets underscored the positive market response to Trump's comments.

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