Top Stocks and Crypto: April 2025 Update
As of April 6, 2025, the U.S. stock market continues to crash. Stocks are cratering after tariffs. Here's what's next for markets.
Goldman Sachs said earlier this year that for every 5-percentage-point increase in the tariff rate, investors could expect S&P 500 earnings to fall by 1% to 2%. After Trump's Rose Garden address, the US tariff rate stood at about 20%.
Goldman Sachs said earlier this year that for every 5-percentage-point increase in the tariff rate, investors could expect S&P 500 earnings to fall by 1% to 2%. After Trump's Rose Garden address, the US tariff rate stood at about 20%.
"Protectionism feels good, but it's expensive," Michael Farr, the CEO and founder of the investment advisory firm Farr, Miller & Washington, told Business Insider.
Still, the pain on Thursday is jarring, especially for investors accustomed to years of stellar gains. The S&P 500 notched a return of over 20% in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, it's down over 8%. It raises the question: Where do markets go from here?
In short, probably down — at least for now.
Bank of America analysts wrote on Thursday that assuming tariffs lead to higher costs for companies and lower demand from consumers, S&P 500 earnings per share could fall as little as 5%, or as much as 32% if countries retaliate.
"The tariffs were higher than expected, and therefore markets hadn't fully priced in this magnitude. Wall Street is essentially repricing," Farr said. "The question is how much repricing is still to come."
The stock market is still not cheap, even after Thursday's plunge, and that's a reason for investors to brace for more losses as the worst-case scenarios get baked into valuations in the coming weeks.
In the event of a full-blown economic contraction, Bank of America said, the S&P 500 could drop to 5,000. That would represent a decline of about 8% from Thursday's levels.
"Markets have clearly taken note but are still far from pricing in the most negative scenarios, with valuations on many equities still elevated vs history," Adam Hetts, a Janus Henderson portfolio manager, said Thursday (April 3, 2025).
The first quarter of 2025 has been marked by resilience in key sectors despite volatility, with stocks in technology, biotechnology, and clean energy—such as TSS, Inc., Monopar Therapeutics, and Power Solutions International—driving narratives, while Bitcoin (BTC) and XRP maintain their prominence in the digital asset space.
Prompt: Are you sure that gold will fall to $2800?
According to Business Insider :
Investors have made their opinion clear: They hate the trade war.
Stocks suffered their worst single-day loss in five years on Thursday. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 5%, the Dow lost 1,679 points, and the Nasdaq composite plunged 6%.
Stocks suffered their worst single-day loss in five years on Thursday. The S&P 500 dropped nearly 5%, the Dow lost 1,679 points, and the Nasdaq composite plunged 6%.
Goldman Sachs said earlier this year that for every 5-percentage-point increase in the tariff rate, investors could expect S&P 500 earnings to fall by 1% to 2%. After Trump's Rose Garden address, the US tariff rate stood at about 20%.
"Protectionism feels good, but it's expensive," Michael Farr, the CEO and founder of the investment advisory firm Farr, Miller & Washington, told Business Insider.
Still, the pain on Thursday is jarring, especially for investors accustomed to years of stellar gains. The S&P 500 notched a return of over 20% in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, it's down over 8%. It raises the question: Where do markets go from here?
In short, probably down — at least for now.
Bank of America analysts wrote on Thursday that assuming tariffs lead to higher costs for companies and lower demand from consumers, S&P 500 earnings per share could fall as little as 5%, or as much as 32% if countries retaliate.
"The tariffs were higher than expected, and therefore markets hadn't fully priced in this magnitude. Wall Street is essentially repricing," Farr said. "The question is how much repricing is still to come."
The stock market is still not cheap, even after Thursday's plunge, and that's a reason for investors to brace for more losses as the worst-case scenarios get baked into valuations in the coming weeks.
In the event of a full-blown economic contraction, Bank of America said, the S&P 500 could drop to 5,000. That would represent a decline of about 8% from Thursday's levels.
"Markets have clearly taken note but are still far from pricing in the most negative scenarios, with valuations on many equities still elevated vs history," Adam Hetts, a Janus Henderson portfolio manager, said Thursday (April 3, 2025).
Gold and silver ETFs also remain popular as safe-haven investments amid persistent uncertainty. This updated article examines year-to-date (YTD) performance as of early April, alongside emerging trends shaping the financial investment outlook.
U.S. Stock Market Overview
The U.S. stock market has shown mixed signals entering April:
- Dow Jones Industrial Average: After gaining nearly 600 points on March 24, the Dow saw a modest pullback this week, dropping 200 points on April 1 amid renewed tariff concerns, though it remains up 3% YTD.
- S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite:Both indices rose in late March but eased slightly by April 2, with the S&P 500 up 8% year-to-date (YTD) and the Nasdaq up 11%, supported by tech and AI-driven gains despite weaker consumer confidence data reported on March 31 (MarketWatch). Both indices have fallen below their 200-day SMA support levels.
Investor sentiment is cautiously optimistic, balancing optimism over trade policy adjustments with concerns about inflation and potential interest rate hikes signaled by the Federal Reserve in late March.
Cryptocurrency Market Update
The cryptocurrency market has sustained its upward trajectory into April, though volatility persists:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
YTD Trend: Strong gains with intermittent dips.
Key Driver: Institutional adoption and ETF inflows.
Bitcoin’s price rose in late March following the U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve announcement but dipped to $87,000 by March 25. - XRP – Steady Utility Growth
YTD Trend: Consistent upward movement.
Key Driver: Adoption in cross-border payments.
XRP climbed to $2.10 by March 25 and has gained an additional 5% in the past week, reaching $2.20 as of April 2. A rumored partnership with a European bank, hinted at in fintech circles on April 1, has bolstered its appeal, though regulatory clarity remains a wildcard.
Gold and Silver ETFs: Safe-Haven Assets Hold Steady
Gold and silver ETFs continue to attract investors seeking stability:
- Top Gold ETFs in 2025:
- SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): Up 12% YTD, tracking gold prices near $2,520 per ounce as of April 2. Expense ratio: 0.4%
- iShares Gold Trust (IAU): A cost-effective option, up 11.5% YTD.
- iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM): Boasts a 35% one-year return and a low 0.09% expense ratio.
- Top Silver ETFs in 2025:
- iShares Silver Trust (SLV): Up 14% YTD, with silver trading above $31 per ounce. Expense ratio: 0.5%.
- Aberdeen Standard Physical Silver Shares ETF (SIVR): A competitive alternative, up 13.5% YTD and a relatively lower 0.3% expense ratio.
Gold prices rose slightly to $2,520 per ounce by April 2, while silver hit $31.50, driven by inflation hedging and a weaker U.S. dollar outlook following mixed economic data.
U.S. Stocks with the Best Yearly Performance
- Summit Therapeutics Inc. (SMMT) as of April 25, 2025:
Sector: Healthcare / BiotechnologyStock Growth: +560% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $17.1B USD
Update: SMMT surged 78% in April alone, driven by positive Phase III trial results for ivonescimab, a PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). On April 23, Akeso reported ivonescimab’s superiority in progression-free survival (PFS) versus chemotherapy in the HARMONi-6 study (X post by @TLAMB91). An interim overall survival analysis requested by Chinese authorities on April 25 showed a positive trend versus pembrolizumab (X post by @NuntioBot). Despite a -37% drop on April 25 due to profit-taking (X post by @monaco_biotech), SMMT remains a strong buy with a $35.50 average price target, implying 53% upside. Jefferies raised its target to $44 on April 25 (X post by @MookTrader). (TradingView)
Here are updated snapshots of standout performers as of April 2, 2025:
- GeneDx (WGS)
Sector: Biotechnology / Genomics
Stock Growth: +829% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $3B USD - AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS)
Sector: Telecommunications / Space Technology
Stock Growth: +646% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $8.9B USD
Update: A 1.5% uptick since March 25 reflects optimism over a satellite launch scheduled for mid-April. - Diginex Limited (DGNX)
Sector: ESG Solutions
Stock Growth: +2,104% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $2.6B USD
Update: Diginex added 1% this week as its ESG reporting platform gained traction with U.S. firms adapting to new compliance rules effective April 1. - Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR)
Sector: Technology / Big Data & AI
Stock Growth: +268% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $49B USD
Update: Palantir jumped 3% since March 25 after securing a defense contract extension on March 30, solidifying its AI dominance. - Power Solutions International Inc. (PSIX)
Sector: Energy / Industrial Equipment
Stock Growth: +1,003% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $635M USD
Update: A 2% rise this week follows a surge in demand for its clean energy power systems, tied to a new EV partnership announced April 1. - Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (MNPR)
Sector: Healthcare / Biotechnology
Stock Growth: +843% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $180M USD - TSS, Inc. (TSSI)price has fallen below it's 200-day SMA (simple moving average indicator) support.
Sector: Technology / Infrastructure
Stock Growth: +1,073% (1-Year Performance)
Market Cap: $218M USD
Update: TSS
Best Growth Stocks for AI, Biotech, and Clean Energy – 2025
High-potential sectors remain focal points for growth:
- Top AI Stocks:
- Nvidia (NVDA): Up 15% YTD, with a 2% gain this week on AI chip demand.
- AMD (AMD): Up 12% YTD, steady despite a flat week.
- Palantir (PLTR): Up 20% YTD, as noted above.
- Alphabet (GOOGL): Up 10% YTD, with AI cloud growth steady.
- C3.ai (AI): Up 18% YTD, flat this week but strong long-term.
- Top Biotech Stocks:
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): Up 14% YTD, stable this week.
- GeneDx (WGS): Up 25% YTD, as noted above.
- Top Clean Energy Stocks:
- Tesla (TSLA): Up 22% YTD, with a 3% spike this week on energy storage news.
- Enphase Energy (ENPH): Up 16% YTD, steady solar gains.
- Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP): Up 12% YTD, unchanged.
- Power Solutions International (PSIX): Up 30% YTD, as noted above.
Final Thoughts & Portfolio Strategy for 2025
Entering April, AI, biotech, clean energy, and blockchain continue to lead market trends. A diversified portfolio remains key:
- 35% AI & Tech (NVDA, PLTR, TSSI)
- 20% Biotech (WGS, MNPR)
- 15% Clean Energy (TSLA, PSIX)
- 15% Safe-Haven Assets (GLD, SLV)
- 15% Crypto (BTC, XRP)
Investment Strategies for 2025: General
- Diversification: Mix stocks, crypto, and metals; gold/silver ETFs remain hedges.
- Defensive Stocks: Utilities and healthcare hold steady.
- Crypto Tactics: DCA into BTC near $85,000 support; XRP at $2.00.
- Precious Metals: 5-15% in GLD/SLV for stability.
- Policy Watch: Monitor Fed rate signals and tariff updates.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Stock Market: Tech and energy resilient; tariff risks linger.
- Crypto: BTC and XRP volatile but promising.
- Gold/Silver: ETFs gain as hedges.
- Diversification: Essential for 2025’s uncertainty.
Smart Investment Strategies: When to Buy, Hold, or Sell
- Buy: Gold and Silver ETFs' dips; TSLA on pullbacks.
- Hold: NVDA, PLTR, XRP unless over-allocated.
- Sell: If prices breach 200-day SMA supports (e.g., BTC $85,000).
Read More: Popular indicators use by most professional and retail traders (2025)
Predictions by AI
ChatGPT:
"As of April 2, 2025, here are the peak price predictions for the specified assets, along with the projected dates:
-
Bitcoin (BTC): Analysts have varying projections for Bitcoin's peak price in 2025. Bitwise predicts that Bitcoin will trade above $200,000 during 2025. Bitwise Investments
-
XRP (XRP): Bitwise's bull case scenario suggests that XRP could peak at $3.90 in 2025, slightly above its all-time high of $3.84. Crypto Basic
-
Gold (XAU): Goldman Sachs has increased its gold price forecast for the end of 2025 to $3,300 per ounce, up from $3,100, amid ongoing investments by investors and central banks. MarketWatch
-
Silver (XAG): Specific peak price predictions for silver in 2025 are limited. As of March 31, 2025, silver is consolidating near $29.83, with potential resistance at $30.16. FXEmpire
-
S&P 500 Index (SPX): Elliott Wave analysis indicates that the S&P 500 is currently undergoing a corrective wave (Wave IV or II), suggesting potential further downside. However, specific peak price predictions for 2025 are not provided. FXStreet
Please note that these projections are based on current analyses and are subject to change due to market dynamics and unforeseen economic events."
Grok (X):
"Here are my 2025 peak price predictions with specific dates and single, precise figures for each asset, based on current trends and potential catalysts as of April 2, 2025:
- $BTC (Bitcoin): $150,000 on December 15, 2025
- $XRP (Ripple): $10 on November 20, 2025
- $XAU (Gold): $2,800 on October 8, 2025
- $XAG (Silver): $40 on September 25, 2025
- $SPX (S&P 500): $6,000 on July 31, 2025
"Thanks for pointing out the current gold price of $3,113 USD per ounce as of April 2, 2025. Since my earlier prediction of a peak price of $2,800 on October 8, 2025, doesn’t align with gold already being at $3,113 today, I’ll adjust all my 2025 peak price predictions with new specific dates and figures, factoring in this starting point and current market momentum. Here’s the updated list:
- $BTC (Bitcoin): $155,000 on December 18, 2025
- $XRP (Ripple): $12 on November 25, 2025
- $XAU (Gold): $3,500 on October 15, 2025
- $XAG (Silver): $45 on September 30, 2025
- $SPX (S&P 500): $6,200 on August 5, 2025
For gold specifically, starting at $3,113 now, I’m projecting a peak of $3,500 on October 15, 2025. This reflects continued bullish momentum driven by factors like geopolitical uncertainty, central bank buying, and potential inflation pressures, with a gradual climb over the next six months rather than a drop. These adjustments assume no major market reversals, but they’re still speculative given the volatility of these assets. Let me know if you’d like me to tweak anything further!"
What’s Next for Investors?
As of April 2, 2025, markets blend opportunity and caution. Tech and energy stocks thrive, crypto rides institutional waves, and safe-haven assets anchor portfolios. The rest of Q2 will depend on Fed moves, trade policies, and global tensions, with AI, energy, and digital assets leading the charge. Stay tuned for further updates!
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