| Name | Price | Change | % Chg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow | 46,253.31 | -17.15 | -0.04% |
| S&P 500 | 6,671.06 | 26.75 | 0.40% |
| Nasdaq | 22,670.08 | 148.38 | 0.66% |
| VIX | 20.64 | -0.17 | -0.82% |
| Gold | 4,229.30 | 27.7 | 0.66% |
| Oil | 58.7 | 0.43 | 0.74% |
OVERVIEW OF THE US MARKET
Wall Street navigated volatility on October 15, 2025, amid US-China trade frictions but closed higher on strong earnings and AI optimism. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% to 6671.06 after swinging from a 1.2% gain to losses and back, reflecting dip-buying resilience in a bull run adding over $15 trillion since April. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.7%, boosted by a 3% surge in semiconductors like ASML on robust AI demand, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped slightly by 0.04%. Morgan Stanley and Bank of America jumped over 2% on exceeding estimates in trading and investment banking, with United Airlines beating forecasts in after-hours.
President Trump’s declaration of a trade war, citing the 100% tariff threat, heightened uncertainty, but Treasury Secretary Bessent’s proposal for a longer tariff truce in exchange for China easing rare-earth curbs buoyed sentiment, signaling potential de-escalation ahead of a Trump-Xi meeting. Crop traders Bunge and Archer-Daniels-Midland soared over 10% on cooking oil tensions. Fed Governor Miran’s note on downside growth risks from trade underscored rate-cut urgency, with HSBC’s Max Kettner eyeing beatable Q3 growth for 2026 risk-on. UBS’s David Lefkowitz sees earnings and Fed easing sustaining the bull, though CFRA’s Sam Stovall warns of more consolidation amid narrowing breadth. Citadel’s Scott Rubner highlights retail call-option demand tying a 24-week record, signaling extraordinary conviction.
OVERVIEW OF THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET
Australian shares extended gains on October 15, 2025, propelled by banks and miners as gold set records and sentiment lifted on US rate-cut hopes. The S&P/ASX 200 climbed 1.03% to 8990.9, nearing its August peak, with the All Ordinaries up 0.98%. Health care led with 2.1%, driven by Telix Pharmaceuticals’ 16.3% surge on upgraded guidance and CSL up 2.6%, while financials rose 1.2% as Westpac and NAB gained nearly 2%.
Materials advanced 1.5% on iron ore strength, with BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue each up over 1.8%, and uranium like Paladin firm amid critical minerals focus. Gold hit $4193 an ounce, boosting miners despite Evolution’s 2.9% drop on production miss. Energy edged down 0.06% on oil lows, but utilities climbed 1.1%. Defense stocks like Droneshield fell 9.6% on profit-taking after 2025’s run, while critical minerals shone with Nova Minerals up 81.7% on US meetings.
September composite leading index dipped -0.03 from -0.05, signaling mild softening but resilience per IG’s Tony Sycamore, who sees consolidation breakout potential into year-end. Bank of Queensland rose 1.4% on lending growth, with CBA’s AGM noting CEO tenure extension. ACCC’s probe into Seven West-Southern Cross merger saw mixed moves.
