Shares of Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) plunged 7.5% to $34.42 Friday afternoon as President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs sent shockwaves through financial markets, fueling fears of a potential global economic downturn.
As the second-largest U.S. bank by assets, Bank of America finds itself particularly exposed to these escalating trade tensions. Rising tariffs threaten to slow economic growth, dampen corporate lending and curb consumer spending--three critical pillars of the bank's revenue.
What's Driving the Decline: Bank of America, which derives a significant portion of its revenue from interest income on loans and mortgages, now faces heightened concerns that tariffs could trigger inflation while stalling economic activity.
If businesses pull back on expansion due to trade uncertainty, demand for corporate credit could weaken, impacting the bank's lending operations.
Additionally, Bank of America's investment banking division--which profits from mergers, acquisitions and capital market activities--could take a hit if market volatility persists.
Heightened uncertainty and global trade disruptions may deter companies from pursuing major deals, further squeezing the bank's fee-based income.
Read Also: Strong Jobs Report Offers Hope -- But Will It Be Enough To Counter Tariff Turmoil?
How To Buy BAC Stock
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.
For example, in Bank of America’s case, it is in the Financials sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
According to data from Benzinga Pro, BAC has a 52-week high of $48.08 and a 52-week low of $33.67.
