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High-Beta & Momentum ETFs to Play on Hints of Easing Trade Tensions?

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On April 22, 2025, Wall Street witnessed signals of easing trade tensions. President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both hinted that 145% tariffs on Chinese goods could be reduced in the near future. Markets responded positively with SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY - Free Report) adding 2.6% on the day, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA - Free Report) gaining 2.7% and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ - Free Report) advancing 2.6%.

Bessent: Current Tariffs Are Unsustainable

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also struck an optimistic tone during a private investor summit, suggesting the current state of US-China tariffs is not viable in the long term. He echoed sentiments he shared in an earlier interview with Yahoo Finance, saying he expects more "clarity" on tariffs in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance visited India on April 22, 2025. Discussions included cooperation in technology, defense, and energy, with the White House noting “progress” on several fronts.

Tariff Pauses and Exemptions Under Consideration

President Trump is also exploring pauses on certain tariffs, particularly on auto imports and some consumer electronics. While he insists tariffs will eventually be enforced, the administration is leaving room for temporary exemptions. Despite the discussions, the 10% baseline tariff on affected imports into the United States—introduced on April 5—remains in effect.

US-UK Trade Talks: Auto Tariffs May Be Cut

The Wall Street Journal reports the United States is considering reducing auto tariffs on UK exports from 10% to 2.5% as part of ongoing trade negotiations. British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is scheduled to meet with Secretary Bessent to advocate for a broader agreement that would reduce or eliminate Trump's previous tariffs on British goods, as quoted on Yahoo Finance.

High Beta & Momentum ETFs to Gain Ahead?

Most exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will likely see a nice boost from the likelihood of trade de-escalation. However, high-beta and high-momentum ETFs, in particular, are expected to outperform in the near term, making them compelling options for short-term investors.

High-beta ETFs experience larger gains than the broader market counterparts in a bullish market, while momentum investing looks to capture profits from buying hot stocks.

These include Invesco S&P 500 High Beta ETF (SPHB - Free Report) , iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM - Free Report) , Invesco Dorsey Wright Momentum ETF (PDP - Free Report) , Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO - Free Report) and Invesco S&P SmallCap Value with Momentum ETF (XSVM - Free Report) . These ETFs gained 2.9%, 3.1%, 2.9%, 2.8%, and 3.1%, respectively on April 22, 2025.


 

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