On Monday, U.S. stocks started the week slightly higher than last week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.1%, the S&P 500 up 1.0% and the Nasdaq composite up 1.3%, boosted by optimism around trade and tech.
Market sentiment was lifted after President Donald Trump signed an $8.5 billion critical minerals agreement with Australia, aimed at securing access to rare earths and reducing reliance on China. The deal positions Australia, home to the world’s fourth-largest rare earth deposits, as a key alternative supplier in the global mineral supply chain.
Markets were mixed Tuesday: the Dow rose 0.5% to a record high, the S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq slipped 0.2% as tech stocks lagged. Gold had its biggest drop in four years after a long rally cooled off, while 10-year Treasury yields hovered around 3.96%. The sell-off in gold reflected- ed profit-taking and easing safe-haven demand.
Amazon restored all its cloud services after a 15-hour outage caused by a malfunctioning digital directory. In China foreign investors are rushing to sell Chinese properties at steep losses after pouring nearly $140 billion into real estate over the past 15 years.
U.S. markets were mixed Wednesday, as investors reacted to earnings and rising geopolitical tensions in tech. The Dow edged up 0.3%, supported by financials, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.2% and the Nasdaq fell 0.5% as weak results from major tech names weighed on sentiment.
China launched a semiconductor probe demanding sensitive operational data from Texas Instruments and Analog Devices, including details on sales, profits and customer transactions, giving companies 37 days to respond. The move raised concerns about U.S.–China tensions and supply chain transparency.
U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, with the S&P 500, the Dow and Nasdaq all closing higher after new housing data came out stronger than expected. Home sales increased in September to the highest level in seven months, assisted by lower mortgage rates. The average 30-year fixed rate, which started in July at 6.6%, has now fallen to about 6.2%, making home-buying easier.
Friday, U.S. stocks rose with the S&P 500 up 0.8%, the Dow gaining 1.0% and the Nasdaq climbing 1.1%, after September’s CPI came in softer than expected at 0.3% month over month and 3.0% year over year.
The cooler inflation data raised hopes for future Fed rate cuts and lifted investor confidence.
Intel’s recent rally lost momentum as investors looked for clearer signs that the company can regain its manufacturing leadership and attract customers again.
While its turnaround efforts show progress, questions remain about competition from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, AMD and Nvidia.
Trade talks between the U.S. and China also stayed in focus, adding some uncertainty to the tech sector. Looking ahead, investors will watch next week’s PMI and consumer sentiment reports for clues about the economy and whether this market strength can continue.
