As Trump often releases market-moving messages over the weekend, Wall Street traders commonly opt for risk-off positions on Fridays.

BlockBeats News, May 16th, according to Barclays Bank's analysis, the demand for portfolio adjustments on Fridays is enough to make the cost of trading high-grade corporate bonds on Fridays 31% higher than at other times. Trzcinka of Impax said, "We have indeed noticed more market activity on Fridays, you never know what will happen over the weekend."

In recent years, Fridays have been the cheapest day of the week to trade bonds, but the situation has now reversed. Barclays Bank analysts Zornitsa Todorova and Andrea Diaz Lafuente wrote in a report that in March and April, trading volume in investment-grade corporate bonds on the last trading day of each week accounted for 18% of weekly volume, higher than 16% in 2023 and 2024.

Since Trump re-entered the White House, market activity as a whole has seen broader swings, with his often unexpected policy decisions on tariffs, immigration, and foreign affairs disrupting economic prospects, and the accelerated pace on Fridays is part of this. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Athanasios Psarofagis's analysis shows that the average weekly trading volume of the stock market in 2025 has increased by 37% from the previous four years, with Friday stock trading volume surging by 42%.

This past weekend, the reasons for this explosive growth became apparent, as Trump and his treasury secretary successively released trade-related news, and by this Monday, more official announcements have been made, leading to significant market changes. The S&P 500 Index surged 3.3%, the Nasdaq 100 Index returned to a bull market, and the credit market showed a sharp decline in investor concerns about defaults. Mark Clegg, senior fixed income trader at Milwaukee Allspring Global Investments, said that Bessemer's move is just the latest lesson, highlighting the importance of reducing portfolio risk before the weekend. He said, "No one wants to enter the market on Monday morning trying to correct mistakes after a major market shift." He uses Fridays to "eliminate any unnecessary risk."

However, the increase in trading speed and volume has not reduced trading costs, especially for asset management companies. In recent weeks, as the weekend approaches, their trades have been very rushed. David Schiffman, portfolio manager at Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management, said, "Portfolio managers are forced to sell what they can sell, not what they want to sell. There is a lack of direction and certainty almost every day, approaching the most extreme level I have seen in my career." (Jinse)