_{ECONOMIC NEWS}

Stock Market Declines as Trump Announces Additional Tariff Exemptions for Mexico

US stocks fell sharply on Thursday after President Trump announced temporary tariff exemptions for Mexico, while leaving Canadian imports uncertain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped around 450 points (1%), the S&P 500 declined 1.7%, and the Nasdaq Composite fell over 2%, reversing Wednesday’s gains.

Market uncertainty grew as investors weighed the impact of Trump's tariff decisions. Stocks pared some losses after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that USMCA-related goods and services might be exempt for a month. Trump later confirmed that tariffs on Mexican goods under USMCA rules would be delayed until April 2.

Tech stocks led the decline, with Marvell (MRVL) plunging over 18% after disappointing earnings, dragging down other chipmakers like Nvidia (NVDA), Broadcom (AVGO), and AMD (AMD). Additionally, weekly jobless claims fell to 221,000, but broader concerns over stagnating US economic growth and stagflation risks weighed on the market ahead of Friday’s jobs report. Read More.

_{FINANCIAL NEWS}

VA Contract Cuts by DOGE Could Jeopardize Veterans' Care, Employees Warn

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reversed course on some planned Veterans Affairs (VA) contract cuts after front-line employees warned they could jeopardize patient safety at nearly 1,400 VA hospitals and clinics. Originally, 875 contracts were set for termination, but after employee backlash, the list was reduced to 585.

Despite this revision, many critical services remain on the chopping block, including contracts for sterility certification in VA pharmacies, hospital air quality testing, and the sterilization of medical instruments. Also slated for cancellation are contracts for stroke center certifications, cancer patient follow-up care, and PTSD research at the National Center for PTSD. Employees fear these cuts are an attempt to push veterans into community care by making VA services unreliable.

The controversy escalated further with reports that VA employees were suspended for leaking contract details, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal condemned the move as reckless and harmful to veterans. Meanwhile, the VA announced plans to lay off 80,000 employees by August, reducing the agency’s workforce to 2019 levels. Despite employee protests and growing political pressure, the full list of remaining contract cancellations has not been publicly disclosed. Read More.