US STOCKS-Wall St climbs after string of sharp losses as investors weigh tariff impact

By Johann M Cherian and Pranav Kashyap

March 14 (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose on Friday after a broad selloff on Wall Street during the week as investors assessed the fallout of tariff policies on economic growth, while new data signaled deteriorating consumer sentiment and a surge in inflation expectations.

A University of Michigan survey showed consumer sentiment plunged in March and inflation worries soared. There are concerns that President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, which have ignited a multi-front trade war, would raise prices and undercut growth.

All three indexes are headed for weekly declines, with the benchmark S&P 500 on track for its fourth consecutive week of declines - its longest weekly losing streak in seven months. The blue-chip Dow .DJI is approximately 9% below its recent record high and set to record its worst week in two years, if losses hold.

Global financial markets were roiled by volatility through the week, with the S&P 500 .SPX tumbling into correction territory, shedding $4 trillion. The tech-heavy Nasdaq .IXIC had already entered correction territory the previous week.

The uncertainty arising from Trump's inconsistent tariff policies has cast a pall over the investment outlook.

"While we may be getting used to the chaos, it still seems as though (U.S.) policy is being delivered in a haphazard manner," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Wealth. "It's a technical bounce in an oversold market."

Trump's tariffs on metal imports prompted swift countermeasures from Canada and the European Union this week. The president has also hinted at the possibility of additional reciprocal tariffs in early April.

Several brokerages downgraded their ratings on U.S. stocks and numerous companies issued cautious forecasts, citing economic concerns.

Investors flocked to safe-haven assets, with gold XAU= breaching the psychological $3,000 mark for the first time ever. U.S.-listed stocks of bullion miners rose, with Barrick Gold GOLD.N gaining 1.4%, Gold Fields GFI.N adding 1% and Sibanye Stillwater SBSW.N up 3%.

At 10:13 a.m. ET the Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 240.57 points, or 0.59%, to 41,054.14, the S&P 500 .SPX gained 49.88 points, or 0.90%, to 5,571.40, and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC was up 208.84 points, or 1.21%, to 17,511.86.

The week's sharp selloff tempered stock valuations and analysts say U.S. equities may be poised to recover.

The technology sector .SPLRCT, which was among the top weekly decliners, led sectoral gains by 1.5%.

Tesla TSLA.O edged up 0.3%. A report said the automaker would make a lower-cost version of its best-selling Model Y in Shanghai, aiming to regain ground lost during a price war in its second-largest market.

The U.S. Senate was on the verge of passing a stopgap spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown.

The central bank's policy decisions will be in the spotlight in the coming week, with traders betting that the U.S. Federal Reserve will leave interest rates unchanged, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Crown Castle CCI.N jumped 8.4% after it said it would sell its fiber assets to two entities for $8.5 billion, nudged by activist investor Elliott Investment Management.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 4.49-to-1 ratio on the NYSE, and a 3.11-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P 500 posted one new 52-week high and four new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 22 new highs and 92 new lows.