The Economic Times·2025-10-17 12:32Market Overview - US stock futures rebounded after President Trump's comments on tariffs, calming investor fears [1][21] - The S&P 500 futures rose about 75 points from their overnight low following Trump's remarks [21] - Despite the rebound, major US stock indexes closed in the red earlier, with the Dow Jones falling approximately 235 points, S&P 500 down 0.8%, and Nasdaq dropping 1% [1][21] Sector Performance - Big tech stocks like Nvidia and Oracle experienced declines of 1.8% and 3.4% respectively, while gold prices rose by 1% to trade above $4,300 per ounce [2][21] - Bank of America's stock fell over 1%, contributing to losses in the banking sector [2][21] - Regional bank shares, including Zions and Western Alliance, dropped due to reported bad loans, with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) losing more than 6% [3][21] Investor Sentiment - The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) surged above 27, indicating increased market anxiety [5][21] - Liz Ann Sonders from Charles Schwab noted the presence of "speculative froth" in the market, particularly in risky stocks like quantum computing and unprofitable tech [6][21] - Concerns about global trade tensions, high AI stock valuations, and the ongoing US government shutdown persist [7][21] Economic Indicators - The US dollar is on track for its worst week since July, with a 0.5% drop in the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index [10][21] - Federal Reserve officials are considering further rate cuts to support the weak labor market, with expectations of 53 basis points of cuts by year-end [11][10][21] - The 10-year Treasury yield fell below 4%, reflecting investor movement towards safer assets [8][21] Gold and Precious Metals - Gold prices surged over 7% this week, reaching record levels above $4,300 per ounce, driven by investor demand for safe-haven assets amid credit fears [16][21] - Silver also hit a record above $54, as the rally in precious metals accelerated following disclosures of fraud-related loan problems by banks [16][21] Company-Specific News - President Trump's announcement regarding a price drop for Ozempic to $150 per month negatively impacted shares of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, with Novo's stock falling 6% in Copenhagen [18][21] - MP Materials shares fell 3% due to US-China trade tensions and China's rare earth export restrictions [15][21] - EssilorLuxottica's stock rose 10% following strong sales of smart glasses [15][21]