Fastcompany·2025-10-17 17:41Core Insights - Major quantum computing firms experienced significant declines in stock prices, with some dropping by double digits [2][4] - The decline affected the "Quantum Four" companies: Rigetti Computing, IonQ, Quantum Computing Inc, and D-Wave Quantum [2][3] Company Performance - Rigetti Computing saw the largest drop, with a 15% decrease on October 16, followed by an additional 7.65% decline in premarket trading [3] - IonQ's shares fell similarly, with a 2.23% drop on Friday after a significant decline on Thursday [3] - Quantum Computing Inc experienced an 11.73% drop, while D-Wave's shares were down 9.65% [4] Market Context - The broader stock market faced shocks due to Zions Bancorporation's fraud accusations against borrowers, raising concerns about the credit health of regional banks [7] - Stock futures retreated as investors reacted to the news, with a shift towards safe-haven assets like gold, which reached a record price of over $4,300 per ounce [8] Investor Behavior - Investors in quantum computing may be engaging in profit-taking after substantial gains over the past year, with Rigetti's shares soaring nearly 5,000% [9] - The speculative nature of the quantum computing sector has led to concerns about overvaluation of stocks [10]