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New tariff threats crush stocks during a big week for Nvidia and key portfolio moves
CNBCยท2025-10-11 17:08

Market Overview - Wall Street's performance was nearly flat until President Trump's new trade threats against China caused a significant market decline, with the S&P 500 dropping 2.71% on Friday, marking its worst single-session decline since April 10 [1] - For the week, the S&P 500 fell 2.43%, while the Nasdaq experienced a 3.56% drop on Friday and a 2.53% decline for the week [1] Trade and Policy Impact - President Trump announced an additional 100% tariff on imports from China, effective November 1, as a response to China's export controls on rare earths [1] - The tariffs are intended to financially counter China's actions, which are critical for modern production across various industries [1] Nvidia Developments - Nvidia shares experienced volatility, initially dropping after AMD's announcement of a significant chip-buying agreement with OpenAI, which led to a nearly 24% surge in AMD's stock [1] - Despite the dip, analysts believe Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip market remains intact, with CEO Jensen Huang expressing confidence in the long-term profitability of new technologies [1] - Nvidia's stock closed down 2.4% from its October 3 close after fluctuating throughout the week [1] Oracle's Performance - Oracle reported thin margins in its cloud business, with a gross margin of 14% on $900 million in sales, significantly lower than its overall gross margin of approximately 70% [1] - Following this news, Oracle's shares fell by as much as 5% [1] Energy and AI Infrastructure - Huang emphasized the importance of energy growth for the U.S. to maintain a competitive edge in AI, linking it to overall economic and national security [1] - GE Vernova is highlighted as a beneficiary of AI's energy needs, particularly with its natural gas-powered turbines [1] Nike's Turnaround Strategy - Nike's CEO Elliott Hill indicated that the company is focused on revamping its operations in China, emphasizing a shift towards sports-themed stores to enhance brand presence [2] - Despite a recent earnings pop, Nike shares have lost nearly 14% year-to-date, but analysts remain optimistic about the brand's recovery potential [2] Portfolio Adjustments - The investment club purchased more shares of GE Vernova and upgraded its rating, citing increased conviction in long-term demand for AI infrastructure [1] - The club also offloaded some Salesforce shares after a profit-taking move, while adding Corning to the watch list due to expected growth in fiber optic cable sales driven by AI data centers [1][2]