2025.10.1518:01:46UTC+00US Stocks Lose Momentum

On Wednesday afternoon, US stocks experienced fluctuations, paring gains made earlier in the session. The S&P 500 saw an uptick of approximately 0.3%, the Nasdaq increased by 0.6%, and the Dow Jones climbed about 50 points. This market dynamism came as investors balanced robust corporate earnings against emerging geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Tensions rekindled when President Trump threatened to end trade relations with China, suggesting a possible 100% tariff on Chinese imports in retaliation for China's export limits on rare earth elements. This move sparked apprehensions of an intensified trade conflict, which led to heightened market volatility and pushed the Cboe Volatility Index up to about 23, marking its highest level since May. In the financial sector, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley each reported third-quarter profits that exceeded expectations, with their shares rising approximately 4% and 5%, respectively. Meanwhile, Nvidia's shares dipped around 0.5% despite receiving an upgrade from HSBC, and Abbott Laboratories saw a decline of more than 5% after falling short of revenue forecasts.