Jessica Mendoza

For foreign investors, the U.S. stock market and the U.S. bond market have long been considered great places to invest. But just a few months into Trump's second term, those markets have seen dramatic swings brought on by threats of a trade war and government infighting.

For Mark and many investors around the world, the uncertainty in the US financial system is starting to feel like an inflection point.

For Mark and many investors around the world, the uncertainty in the US financial system is starting to feel like an inflection point.

For Mark and many investors around the world, the uncertainty in the US financial system is starting to feel like an inflection point.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, April 24th. Coming up on the show, why foreign investors are selling America. Before there was sell America, there was buy America. You might know it as the U.S. exceptionalism trade.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, April 24th. Coming up on the show, why foreign investors are selling America. Before there was sell America, there was buy America. You might know it as the U.S. exceptionalism trade.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Thursday, April 24th. Coming up on the show, why foreign investors are selling America. Before there was sell America, there was buy America. You might know it as the U.S. exceptionalism trade.

Our colleague Chelsea Delaney reports on markets.

Our colleague Chelsea Delaney reports on markets.

Our colleague Chelsea Delaney reports on markets.

So, quick econ 101. Stocks are shares of public companies. Treasury bonds are essentially a loan to the U.S. government from an investor, and that loan is in dollars. Since the end of World War II, Treasury bonds have been considered some of the safest bets in the world, because investors could count on the U.S. government to not default on its loans.

So, quick econ 101. Stocks are shares of public companies. Treasury bonds are essentially a loan to the U.S. government from an investor, and that loan is in dollars. Since the end of World War II, Treasury bonds have been considered some of the safest bets in the world, because investors could count on the U.S. government to not default on its loans.

So, quick econ 101. Stocks are shares of public companies. Treasury bonds are essentially a loan to the U.S. government from an investor, and that loan is in dollars. Since the end of World War II, Treasury bonds have been considered some of the safest bets in the world, because investors could count on the U.S. government to not default on its loans.

This relative stability in both markets continued for decades.

This relative stability in both markets continued for decades.

This relative stability in both markets continued for decades.

That growth spurred foreign investors to invest in all sorts of assets in the U.S. The stock market thrived. And it was given even more of a boost recently by the rise of artificial intelligence.

That growth spurred foreign investors to invest in all sorts of assets in the U.S. The stock market thrived. And it was given even more of a boost recently by the rise of artificial intelligence.

That growth spurred foreign investors to invest in all sorts of assets in the U.S. The stock market thrived. And it was given even more of a boost recently by the rise of artificial intelligence.

How much of a stronghold has the U.S. had on the world economy recently? Is that a quantifiable number?