Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-08-20 22:25Market Overview - On August 20, US tech stocks experienced a significant decline, with the Nasdaq dropping nearly 2% and falling below 21,000 points for the first time since August 7 [1] - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plummeted over 3%, with Nvidia down nearly 4% [1] - The VIX, known as the "fear index," surged over 10% during the trading session [1] Stock Performance - Major indices closed with mixed results: the Dow Jones increased by 16.04 points (0.04%) to 44,938.31, while the Nasdaq fell by 142.10 points (0.67%) to 21,172.86, and the S&P 500 decreased by 15.59 points (0.24%) to 6,395.78 [1] - Notable declines in large tech stocks included Apple (-1.54%), Tesla (-2.68%), Amazon (-1.97%), Facebook (-1.24%), Google (-1.16%), Nvidia (-1.54%), and Microsoft (-0.77%) [1][2] Semiconductor Sector - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell by 1.79%, with Intel dropping over 6% and Micron Technology down over 5% [2] - Other semiconductor companies like Arm Holdings and TSMC also saw declines exceeding 2% [2] Options Market Activity - Wall Street traders are increasingly purchasing put options to hedge against the risk of further declines in tech stocks, particularly those tracking the Nasdaq 100 Index [10] - The cost of hedging against significant downturns is nearing a three-year high, indicating heightened concern among traders [10] Economic Indicators - The US dollar index weakened, reported at 98.173, down 0.11% [6][7] - Market expectations suggest a 51.5% probability of a 25 basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve in October, with a 38.8% chance of another cut in December [14] Federal Reserve Outlook - The upcoming Jackson Hole Economic Symposium is anticipated to provide insights into future monetary policy, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell expected to address the market's expectations regarding interest rate cuts [12][14] - Analysts predict Powell will emphasize the need for caution regarding the timing and magnitude of potential rate cuts, particularly in light of inflation concerns [14][17]