That dynamic is now playing out again. The looming shutdown is shaking investor confidence in Washington’s ability to manage fiscal policy. Memories of past shutdowns—such as the record 34-day closure in 2018—have reinforced fears of disruption to federal services, unpaid government workers, and broader economic drag. This time, warnings of permanent layoffs and deeper cuts have only heightened anxiety.At the same time, the political standoff is unfolding against a backdrop of other destabilizing forces: Tr ...

By David Kirton FOSHAN, China (Reuters) -In China's "Furniture Kingdom" of Lecong, home to a strip of cavernous malls, vendors shrugged off the latest round of tariffs from Washington, saying they've long given up on the U.S. market. As part of his latest tariff onslaught, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a 50% levy on imported kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, as well as a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture, to take effect on October 1. But in one of dozens of malls along the st ...

Core Viewpoint - Oil prices remained stable as traders assessed the effects of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Russia, alongside concerns regarding trade tariffs that may negatively impact fuel demand [1] Group 1 - Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Russia are influencing oil market dynamics [1] - Concerns over trade tariffs persist, potentially dampening fuel demand [1]

Group 1: Central Bank Actions and Market Reactions - The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 4% to 4.25%, which has positively impacted equity markets, leading to an all-time high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average [1] - The dovish stance of the Fed has buoyed Wall Street, although the S&P 500 and Nasdaq had mixed reactions immediately following the rate decision [1] Group 2: Technology Sector Developments - Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in Intel, aimed at developing products for data centers and personal computers, resulting in a 28% increase in Intel's shares and a 2.6% rise in Nvidia's shares [3] - Samsung Electronics saw a 0.8% decline in its stock following the Nvidia-Intel announcement, highlighting competitive dynamics in the semiconductor industry [3] Group 3: Geopolitical Developments - The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing its stance against Hamas, while French President Macron advocated for recognizing a Palestinian state [4] - Iran withdrew a resolution to the UN nuclear watchdog that aimed to ban attacks on nuclear facilities, influenced by US lobbying [5]

Market Overview - On September 17, 2025, U.S. stock markets exhibited mixed performance, influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision and significant corporate news [1][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 304.25 points, closing at 46,062.15, a gain of approximately 0.66%, while the S&P 500 fell by 4.86 points to 6,601.90, a decrease of 0.07%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 95.59 points to 22,238.37, down 0.43% [2] Federal Reserve Decision - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the first rate cut of the year, amid signs of a weakening labor market [3] - Investors are awaiting the FOMC meeting minutes and updated "dot plot" projections for insights into future rate paths and economic outlook [3] Corporate News - Nvidia (NVDA) shares declined by approximately 1.6% due to reports that China's internet regulator instructed major tech firms to cease purchasing Nvidia's AI chips [5] - Oracle Corporation (ORCL) shares increased by 1.5% as it is part of a consortium to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. [6] - Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) shares rose by 1.9% after announcing an additional $500 million for share buybacks, raising total authorization to approximately $750 million [6] - ADTRAN Holdings, Inc. (ADTN) stock plummeted by 15.1% following a $150 million convertible senior notes offering [7] - Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY) shares fell by 16.7% after reporting second-quarter earnings significantly below estimates [7] - Workday (WDAY) shares surged by 6.9% after Elliott Investment Management disclosed a stake of over $2 billion in the company [8] - StubHub (STUB) debuted on the NYSE at $23.50 per share following its IPO [9] - General Mills, Inc. (GIS) reported a 7% decrease in net sales for Q1 fiscal 2026, but a 108% increase in operating profit due to a yogurt divestiture [10] - Manchester United plc (MANU) reported an increase in commercial revenue for the 2025 fiscal fourth quarter and full year [10]

Group 1 - Oil prices eased after a three-day advance, with Brent around $68 a barrel following a 3.2% gain in previous sessions, as traders assess the impact of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision [1][3] - The recent oil price gains have not been sufficient to break out of the $5 band it has been in for most of the past month and a half, influenced by geopolitical tensions and bearish fundamentals [2] - OPEC+ supply is expected to increase, raising predictions of a potential glut later in the year, while rising oil tanker earnings indicate higher output [2] Group 2 - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce a quarter-point interest rate cut, with the market also pricing in three additional cuts by April [3][4] - A recent industry report indicated a decline in U.S. crude inventories by 3.4 million barrels last week, which would mark the largest drop in a month if confirmed by official data [4] - Brent's second-month implied volatility has decreased, reaching its lowest level in over three weeks, as prices remain within a narrow range since early August [5]

Group 1 - Oil futures have risen for three consecutive sessions, driven by a weaker U.S. dollar and concerns over potential supply disruptions from Russia [1] - Market participants are closely monitoring geopolitical tensions and the possibility of further Western sanctions on Russian supplies, which could impact supply surplus expectations [2] - Tomorrow's EIA inventory data is anticipated to show crude and gasoline stocks remaining unchanged, while a build in diesel stocks is expected according to analysts' estimates [2]

BREAKING: Stock Futures Rise As Tesla, Amazon Climb Nvidia (NVDA) stock fell Monday along with shares of other U.S.-based chipmakers as China stepped up political pressure on the U.S. On Monday, China's State Administration for Market Regulation said a preliminary investigation found that Nvidia's 2020 acquisition of Mellanox Technologies violated antitrust laws. The regulator said certain conditions imposed when China initially approved the deal were not met. On Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce in China ...

Most commodity prices were in the green on Friday with crude oil rising more than 1% due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine. Gold prices continued to consolidate near all-time hi... ...

Tech giants grapple with volatile market shifts as geopolitical tensions and competitive pressures reshape the semiconductor landscape. Shares of Synopsys Inc SNPS tanked in early trading on Wednesday, after the company reported downbeat fiscal third-quarter results.Here are some takeaways from analysts:BofA Securities analyst Vivek Arya downgraded the rating from Buy to Underperform, while slashing the price target from $625 to $525.Needham analyst Charles Shi maintained a Buy rating, while reducing the pr ...