Feng Huang Wang·2025-10-15 22:19Market Overview - The S&P 500 index rose amid strong earnings reports from financial giants like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America, indicating resilience in the U.S. economy [1] - The third-quarter earnings season for U.S. banks has begun, showing better-than-expected profits and revenues, which boosts investor confidence [1] - The VIX index, known as the "Wall Street Fear Index," increased to 20.6 points, close to its highest level since late May, reflecting ongoing market volatility [3] Company Performance - Morgan Stanley's stock surged by 4.7%, reaching a record high, while Bank of America rose by 4.4%, both benefiting from a rebound in investment banking [4] - Major tech stocks mostly rose, with Nvidia initially gaining 2.7% before closing down 0.1%, indicating intense trading activity at high levels [4] - SanDisk, Western Digital, Seagate Technology, and Micron Technology saw significant gains in the storage sector, with SanDisk rising over 13% [5] Notable Corporate Developments - Meta announced a $1.5 billion investment to build a new data center in Texas, aimed at enhancing its AI infrastructure, marking its third project in the state [7] - A consortium led by BlackRock, Microsoft, and Nvidia plans to acquire data center operator Aligned for approximately $40 billion, focusing on AI infrastructure [8] - Apple launched its fifth-generation M5 chip, featuring significant performance improvements, and will debut it in three new devices [9] Economic Indicators - The U.S. Treasury Secretary plans to submit a list of candidates for the Federal Reserve Chair to President Trump after Thanksgiving [1] - The Federal Reserve's Beige Book indicated that the overall economic growth in the U.S. has remained stable, with a steady labor market and subdued demand in most districts [3]