President Trump softens stance on tariffs on China, bitcoin sells off

Group 1: Trade Relations and Tariffs - President Trump indicated a softer stance on China tariffs, stating that a 100% tariff on China is not sustainable and confirming a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks [1][5][9] - The U.S. is reportedly preparing to ease tariffs on the auto industry, with a potential five-year extension allowing automakers to reduce tariffs on imported car parts, which could alleviate the $10 billion in duties already paid this year [2][24][25] Group 2: Banking Sector and Credit Risks - Regional banks, such as Zions and Western Alliance, reported significant losses due to fraud related to loans for distressed commercial mortgages, leading to market sell-offs and increased credit risk concerns [3][11][10] - The VIX index spiked, indicating heightened market volatility, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell below 4% for the first time since April [3][31] Group 3: Earnings Reports and Market Reactions - American Express reported better-than-expected earnings with record revenue of $18.4 billion, raising its full-year revenue growth outlook to between 9% and 10% [4][28] - Despite initial market jitters, stock futures recovered slightly due to President Trump's optimistic comments on trade, with the Dow indicated to open in positive territory [5][8] Group 4: Commodity Market Movements - Gold prices continue to rise, nearing record highs, while Bitcoin has seen a significant decline of 8% over the past five days, trading around $15,000 [16][19][22] - Oil prices have decreased, leading to the lowest gas prices since January, influenced by geopolitical factors involving Russia and Ukraine [20][21]