Stock market today: Nasdaq, S&P 500 slide as investors digest flood of tech earnings, government shutdown

Group 1: Market Overview - US stocks experienced a decline, with the Nasdaq Composite falling by 1.6%, the S&P 500 losing nearly 1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreasing by around 0.4% [1] - The tech sector faced pressure despite initial gains, influenced by a wave of earnings reports and ongoing concerns about a partial government shutdown [1] Group 2: Tech Sector Performance - Palantir reported strong quarterly results, indicating continued demand for its AI platform, which initially boosted tech stocks [2] - However, major tech companies like Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft saw declines, with Nvidia dropping over 3% due to cooling relations with OpenAI and concerns over potential overspending in the AI sector [3][4] - PayPal's earnings and forecast missed estimates, leading to a stock drop of over 16% amid a broader sell-off in software stocks [5] Group 3: Corporate Developments - The Walt Disney Company appointed Josh D'Amaro as the new CEO, set to replace Bob Iger on March 18, but shares in Disney fell following the announcement [6] Group 4: Precious Metals Market - Precious metals experienced significant volatility, with gold surging over 6%, marking its largest daily gain since 2008, while silver rebounded dramatically, increasing over 13% [7]