Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Oct. 20, 2025 in New York City.
Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Stocks jumped to new records on Monday after U.S. and China officials cooled tensions over the weekend, laying the groundwork for President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jinping to clinch a trade deal this week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 230 points, or 0.5%. The S&P 500 climbed 0.9%, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 1.5%, bolstered by a rise in chip stocks like Nvidia. All three major averages had notched fresh all-time intraday highs in the session.
“I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The framework potentially includes a delay of China’s rare earths restrictions that caused the latest trade flare-up, a spiking of Trump’s threatened 100% tariffs on China that were to start Nov. 1 and a resumption of Chinese purchases of soybeans. The agreement may include a resolution of the TikTok dispute with the U.S. getting a deal for the U.S. version of the social video app.
“I have a lot of respect for President Xi, and we are going to come away with the deal,” Trump said on Monday from Air Force One.
Chipmakers, the sector with the most to lose from tensions with China, supported the rally Monday. Nvidia rose about 2%, while Broadcom gained nearly 1%. Tesla and Apple also added around 3% and 1%, respectively, with the latter nearing $4 trillion in market cap.
Qualcomm rose to a new high after the company announced new artificial intelligence chips, putting it in competition with Nvidia and AMD. The stock was last up almost 20%.
“Details are still limited, and nothing will be finalized until the Trump-Xi meeting, but a renewed truce now seems near-certain, with China likely fully delaying their rare earth export controls for a year—better than the alternative of an agreement to grant licenses,” said Tobin Marcus of Wolf Research in a note. “This overall better-than-expected outcome should be bullish for markets this week, assuming the Trump-Xi meeting goes well.”
Stocks are coming off a bullish week, with all three major indices hitting record highs last Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its first-ever close above the 47,000 mark. The S&P 500 touched 6,800 for the first time ever Friday. All three major benchmarks posted their second week in a row of gains.
Investors expect the Federal Reserve to slash rates on Wednesday, particularly after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released slightly cooler-than-expected inflation data last week. Big Tech companies’ upcoming earnings reports are also on tap. Several “Magnificent Seven” stocks, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms and Microsoft, will release their third-quarter results this week.
While investors were encouraged by improving China-U.S. relations, a setback with Canada kept their enthusiasm in check. Trump on Saturday put an additional 10% tariff on Canada imports for not pulling a TV ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan knocking tariffs fast enough.
Selling cash-secured puts is a common, relatively conservative options-income generation strategy, but aligning strike selection and timing with technical indicators can significantly improve risk-adjusted returns. One variant I propose to simplify this process involves selling puts with approximately 60 days to expiration when the underlying stock is trading near its exponential moving average (EMA). This approach blends technical discipline, probabilistic pricing and time decay into a cohesive framework. The exponential moving average smooths price trends while weighting recent data more heavily than older prices. Traders use the 50-day EMA as a “mean reversion” guidepost — an area where prices often consolidate before continuing an established trend. When an underlying stock pulls back toward its EMA within an uptrend, option premiums tend to be richer due to increased implied volatility, yet the probability of a significant breakdown remains modest. Selling a put under those conditions, with roughly 60 days to expiration, positions the seller to capture elevated option premium while capturing the tendency for prices to revert toward the mean. Using options with approximately 60 days until expiration seeks to strike a balance between time decay and premium capture while also aligning with the moving average we’re using in this case. Short-dated monitoring Short-dated options (under 30 days) lose value rapidly, but they require constant monitoring and rolling, which increases transaction costs. Longer-dated options (90-180 days) decay slowly and have more “Vega” (sensitivity to changes in implied volatility). Vega exposure, whether long or short, isn’t a bad thing per se, but it’s a broader topic, beyond the scope of this article. At around two months to expiration, a put’s theta (time decay) is sufficient to provide meaningful daily income, while gamma (sensitivity to price changes) is low enough to prevent excessive risk from sharp short-term moves. The result is a moderate-duration position that benefits from both the passing of time and stability in the underlying price. The practical implementation is straightforward. Identify fundamentally sound equities or ETFs with steady uptrends and plot their 50-day EMA. When the “standstill yield” is attractive, sell an out-of-the-money put at a strike near the EMA. The chosen strike serves as both a technical and valuation anchor: If assigned, the investor acquires the stock at a level consistent with recent support and mean reversion expectations. The collected premium cushions downside risk and enhances the effective yield on capital at risk. This method aligns naturally with investors who seek equity exposure but prefer disciplined entry points. Selling a put is economically equivalent to setting a limit buy order at the strike price while being paid to wait. (In this case, one would need to pay the prevailing price of the put if one seeks to cancel it prior to expiration.) Should the stock rise, the option expires worthless, and the investor keeps the premium. Should it decline modestly and assignment occur, the investor acquires shares at a discount relative to pre-pullback levels. Either outcome can be favorable when applied systematically to quality names. Possible risks Which isn’t to say the strategy is without risk. Sudden macroeconomic shocks or trend reversals can push prices well below the EMA, leading to mark-to-market losses or assignments on declining stocks. Position sizing, diversification and the willingness to hold or roll positions are crucial risk controls. Nonetheless, over multiple cycles, selling 60-day puts at or below the EMA can serve as a quantitative “buy-the-dip” strategy — transforming volatility into income and replacing impulsive timing with structured probability management. As an example, consider Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB) . One could consider selling the December 55 puts, a strike just above the 50-day exponential moving average of $54.60. As of Friday’s late-afternoon mid-market prices, those puts were trading at ~$4.65, or 7.2% of the current stock price. In the worst case, an investor would purchase the underlying shares at $50.35, ~22% below the current stock price, the level at which it traded before its most recent breakout in late September. DISCLOSURES: None. All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL’S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. Click here for the full disclaimer.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Berkshire Hathaway to underperform, warning that Warren Buffett’s succession risk and a slew of business-specific headwinds could weigh on the conglomerate’s earnings and share performance over the next year. The brokerage slashed its rating to the equivalent of sell from neutral, and cut its price target for Berkshire’s Class A shares to $700,000 from $740,000, implying a 5% downside from Friday’s close of $738,500. “Beyond our ongoing concerns surrounding macro uncertainty and Berkshire’s historically unique succession risk … we think the shares will underperform as earnings challenges emerge and/or persist,” analysts led by Meyer Shields wrote in a note to clients. KBW said the company’s core businesses — from auto insurer Geico to railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe — are likely to face simultaneous pressures in the year ahead, reflecting a mix of cyclical and structural challenges across the conglomerate’s portfolio. The analysts pointed to softer insurance investment income, weaker railroad growth and shrinking energy tax credits as mounting headwinds for Berkshire’s sprawling operations. The Omaha-based conglomerate has underperformed the S & P 500 this year as the stock tumbled double digits from all-time highs after the 95-year-old Buffett in May announced he’s stepping down as CEO at the year-end after six legendary decades. The sell-off partially reflects the so-called Buffett premium, or the extra price investors are willing to pay because of the billionaire’s unmatched record and exceptional capital allocation skills. BRK.A YTD mountain Berkshire Hathaway year to date Berkshire’s succession uncertainty reflects “Warren Buffett’s likely unrivaled reputation and what we see as unfortunately inadequate disclosure that will probably deter investors once they can no longer rely on Mr. Buffett’s presence at Berkshire Hathaway,” KBW said in the note titled “Many Things Moving in the Wrong Direction.” Berkshire’s B shares are up 8.6%. in 2024 as of Friday, compared to the 15.5% year-to-date gain for the S & P 500. The stock is lagging the equity benchmark by 6.9 percentage points, marking the largest gap it’s been all year. Moving in the Wrong Direction? For the second quarter, Berkshire’s operating profit dipped 4% year over year to $11.16 billion, impacted by a decline in insurance underwriting. KBW expects insurance profitability to weaken further as Geico lowers personal auto rates and ramps up marketing spending in an effort to regain market share. Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group is also facing a less favorable backdrop, the firm said. A mild hurricane season has weighed on property-catastrophe reinsurance pricing, a trend that could reduce both premium volumes and profitability in the coming quarters, KBW said. Investment income, a key earnings driver in recent years, is expected to soften as well. With short-term interest rates declining, returns on Berkshire’s massive cash and Treasury portfolio are likely to come under pressure, limiting a source of steady income that has bolstered recent results. Buffett’s cash hoard of $344.1 billion remained near a record high at the end of June. At the railroad division, Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s inflation-adjusted revenue has historically moved in tandem with U.S.–China trade activity. KBW cautioned that persistent tariff pressures and weaker trade flows could continue to constrain growth. Berkshire Hathaway Energy also may see its profitability erode as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” accelerates the phase-out of clean-energy tax credits, KBW said. The policy shift could diminish the returns of future renewable projects and weigh on the conglomerate’s long-term energy earnings, it said. The conglomerate is set to report third-quarter earnings Saturday morning.
(Reuters) -Qualcomm on Monday unveiled two artificial intelligence chips for data centers, with commercial availability from next year, as it pushes to diversify beyond smartphones and expand into the fast-growing AI infrastructure market.
Shares of Qualcomm surged nearly 15% on the news.
The new chips, called AI200 and AI250, are designed for improved memory capacity and running AI applications, or inference, and will be available in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Global investment in AI chips has soared as cloud providers, chipmakers and enterprises rush to build infrastructure capable of supporting complex, large language models, chatbots and other generative AI tools.
Nvidia chips, however, underpin much of the current AI boom.
Qualcomm, to strengthen its AI portfolio, agreed to buy Alphawave in June, which designs semiconductor tech for data centers, for about $2.4 billion.
In May, Qualcomm also said it would make custom data center central processing units that use technology from Nvidia to connect to the firm’s artificial intelligence chips.
Qualcomm said the new chips support common AI frameworks and tools, with advanced software support, and added they will lower the total cost of ownership for enterprises.
The San Diego-based company also unveiled accelerator cards and racks based on the new chips.
Earlier this month, peer Intel announced a new artificial intelligence chip called Crescent Island for the data center that it plans to launch next year.
(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Vijay Kishore)
Donald Trump is on course to push US debt levels above those of Italy and Greece by the end of the decade after wide-ranging tax cuts and increased defence spending, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts.
Illustrating the rising debt levels in Washington and efforts made by Rome and Athens to bring spending under control after the 2008 financial crash and Covid-19 pandemic, the IMF predicts the US will see its debts climb from 125% to 143% of annual income by 2030, while Italy’s will flatline at about 137%.
Greece is on track to cut the ratio of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) from 146% to 130% over the same period. According to IMF data, Athens has tackled a budget overspend that raced to 210% as a proportion of GDP in 2020.
Amid tax cuts for high earners, the US is expected to run annual budget deficits of more than 7% over the next five years, while Italy is due to cut its spending shortfall this year to 2.9%, allowing it to meet a 3% limit set by Brussels a year early, in analysis first reported in the Financial Times.
Trump increased US government spending and cut federal taxes in the “big, beautiful bill”, passed by Congress in the summer, forcing the White House to rely more heavily on borrowing to fund annual spending.
The US president reversed efforts under the previous Biden administration to limit the size of the US deficit, offering tax cuts that will benefit mostly middle and high income groups. He has also pledged to build a “golden dome” defence shield, which could cost almost $1tn.
Spending increases could push the budget deficit higher by $7tn a year by the time Trump is due to leave office in January 2029.
Both Italy and Greece have committed to maintaining primary budget surpluses, which entail cuts in spending to below the incomes from tax receipts.
Italy’s growth rate is expected to average 0.5% over the next couple of years. Its population is falling due to a declining birthrate and a level of emigration that hit 200,000 last year, but Italy has seen average household incomes recover.
Lorenzo Codogno, the head of Lorenzo Codogno Macro Advisors and a former chief economist at Italy’s treasury department, said there was pressure on Giorgia Meloni’s government to increase spending in the wake of Trump’s tariffs and his demands for bigger European defence budgets.
He said: “The economy and public finances remain vulnerable to a sudden negative shift in the global scenario.”
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Mahmood Pradhan, head of global macro at the Amundi Investment Institute, told the FT: “It is a symbolic moment, and according to the Congressional Budget Office the projections are for US debt to carry on rising – that is the impact of running perpetual deficits.
“But Italy has a weaker growth outlook than the US, so this should not be read as meaning Italy is out of the woods.”
James Knightley, chief international economist at ING, said: “Many US politicians and investors look down somewhat on Europe and its slow growth and struggling economies, but when you have metrics like this, the conversation changes.”
ITR recognized Deloitte for distinction across several categories, including technology, policy and transfer pricing
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Deloitte announced today that it has received nine total awards at the 2025 International Tax Review (ITR) Americas Tax Awards, highlighting achievements in delivering best-in-class tax solutions and services. This year’s slew of awards recognized work spanning tax technology, tax policy, transfer pricing and more, highlighting the combination of Deloitte’s wide-ranging tax prowess and tech-forward approach.
Award Highlights:
Tax Advisory Firm of the Year
Tax Technology Firm of the Year
Tax Policy Firm of the Year
Tax Compliance & Reporting Firm of the Year
Indirect Tax Firm of the Year
North America Tax Advisory Firm of the Year
Transfer Pricing Advisory Firm of the Year
North America Transfer Pricing Advisory Firm of the Year
US Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year
“These recognitions across our practice are a testament to our organization’s enduring commitment to excellence, innovation, and purpose,” said Carin Giuliante, chair and CEO, Deloitte Tax LLP. “They reflect the deep experience and the collaborative spirit that define our teams. Each award is not just a milestone, but an affirmation of how our people consistently transform bold ideas into meaningful impact for our clients. I am deeply proud of the ingenuity, integrity, and purpose-driven leadership that continue to elevate our organization.”
“Transformation is not simply about adopting new technologies, it’s about reshaping how we think, collaborate, and lead,” said Chuck Kosal, chief transformation officer, Deloitte Tax LLP. “These awards reflect the ingenuity of our teams who don’t just implement change, they architect it. From pioneering AI-powered applications to reimagining global compliance platforms, I’m proud that our approach to innovation continues to set new standards across the profession.”
Deloitte continues to set the standard for tax innovation, earning consistent industry recognition for cutting-edge solutions and digital transformation services in tax. Of Deloitte’s many ITR submissions this year, highlights include:
Deloitte’s IncentivesHub platform, which applies AI to help automate compliance and support deep data analysis. Armed with award-winning modules, like the Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship solution and the Tax Incentive Opportunity Insights tool, IncentivesHub helps tax professionals efficiently identify tax credits and incentives, keeping pace with regulatory demands and helping optimize financial outcomes.
A major leap forward in tax technology, Deloitte’s Indirect Tax Compliance (ITC) platform integrates AI-powered robotic process automation (RPA) to streamline entire indirect tax workflows, from data intake to e-filing and reconciliation. By automating millions of tax records and enabling real-time collaboration and transparency, the ITC platform transforms a traditionally fragmented process into a unified, efficient, and secure system, helping set a new standard for indirect tax compliance in the digital age.
Deloitte’s GenAI Incubator Lab & Client Pilot Program is empowering organizations to develop AI-powered tax applications that drive transformative changes in their tax and accounting operations. This initiative further positions Deloitte as a pioneer in responsible AI innovation, delivering real-world impact through collaborative experimentation.
With the launch of GAIN (GlobalAdvantage Incentives) 3.0 platform, a next-level solution for addressing tax withholding for employee incentive compensation, Deloitte has reimagined its global incentive compensation tax solution. Built on modern architecture and informed by real-world insights, GAIN 3.0 delivers enhanced speed, scalability, and intelligence, helping multinational organizations manage tax withholding for employee incentives with greater precision and efficiency.
“At Deloitte Tax, we see technology as a catalyst for empowering tax professionals to solve complex challenges with greater speed and confidence,” said Nathan Andrews, technology innovation leader at Deloitte Tax. “We are committed to offering solutions that not only advance efficiency, but also foster trust, transparency, and agility in every engagement. This year’s awards from ITR demonstrate our continued dedication to pioneering innovations that help organizations adapt to change and deliver impact at scale.”
Deloitte’s recognition in tax policy highlights its work in helping clients interpret and respond to complex domestic and global tax developments. Through a multidisciplinary lens, Deloitte provides insight and clarity organizations need to navigate change with confidence. Award-winning work this year included:
Deloitte Tax Policy Leadership: Deloitte continues to lead the way in helping clients understand and plan for domestic and international tax policy changes. The firm’s multidisciplinary approach helps organizations navigate complex tax landscapes with confidence and clarity.
Deloitte’s Pillar Two Agent is a breakthrough compliance solution designed to meet the demands of new global tax regulations. Featuring a robust audit trail, intuitive dashboard, and advanced analytics, the platform equips teams with the insights needed to help tax departments navigate Pillar Two requirements confidently and effectively.
The 2025 ITR Americas Awards recognize efforts that pioneered novel approaches in the tax industry and were executed between January 2024 and January 2025.
About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters for our people, clients, and communities. We bring together distinct talents, technologies, disciplines, and an ecosystem of alliances to help tackle today’s most complex business challenges and drive long-term progress. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 180 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 470,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
Nvidia is the newest member of the Dow Jones, providing the index with some much-needed exposure to the technology sector.
While Nvidia stock has risen by almost 300% since early 2024, several powerful catalysts could fuel shares even higher.
Wall Street is overwhelmingly optimistic on Nvidia stock.
10 stocks we like better than Nvidia ›
The Dow Jones Industrial Averageis home to some of the most storied, iconic American brands. Companies such as Coca-Cola, Disney, Home Depot, IBM, and Walmart are just a handful of the index’s components.
About a year ago, the Dow shook things up, replacing longtime member Intel with semiconductor giant Nvidia(NASDAQ: NVDA). From a structural standpoint, the change makes sense. Over the last few years, Intel has struggled to keep pace with its peers in the chip space. Meanwhile, Nvidia has essentially become the ultimate barometer of the stock market’s latest megatrend: The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.
Since last January, shares of Nvidia have gained nearly 270% as of this writing (Oct. 23). For perspective, this is more than five times the gains generated in the Nasdaq Compositeand S&P 500.
NVDA data by YCharts.
While this type of momentum might have you thinking the Nvidia train is headed for a speed bump, analysts across Wall Street beg to differ. Let’s explore several key tailwinds that could help fuel Nvidia’s generational run even further, and assess why now still looks like a great time for long-term investors to double down on the stock.
For the last three years, Nvidia’s primary source of revenue and profits has been its compute and networking business. This is the segment of the company responsible for selling high-performance AI accelerators, known as graphics processing units (GPUs), and accompanying data center services.
Right now, Nvidia’s next-generation chip architecture — dubbed Blackwell — is in high demand among big tech hyperscalers like Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Oracle, and OpenAI. What’s even more encouraging, however, is Nvidia’s pace of innovation. Over the next couple of years, the company is slated to release even more powerful successor chips, known as Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin.
This dense product roadmap brings up an important question: Why is Nvidia already planning next-generation hardware as it currently scales Blackwell?
The answer to that can be summed up by looking at the long-term forecasts of capital expenditures (capex) from the hyperscalers. Over the last few years, cloud hyperscalers and big tech titans have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into AI data centers, packing these facilities with best-in-class GPU clusters and networking equipment.
AMZN Capital Expenditures (TTM) data by YCharts.
These dynamics have served as a bellwether for Nvidia throughout the AI boom. But according to Wall Street, the AI infrastructure revolution is just getting started.
According to management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, an estimated $7 trillion is expected to be spent on AI infrastructure over the next five years. In the near term, research from Goldman Sachs indicates that the hyperscalers will spend nearly half a trillion dollars on AI buildouts just next year.
It’s this rise in AI infrastructure that has technology analyst Beth Kindig of the I/O Fund calling for Nvidia to reach a $6 trillion valuation by 2026 — implying more than 30% upside from its current market capitalization of roughly $4.5 trillion.
Image source: Nvidia.
According to data from Yahoo! Finance, a total of 64 sell-side analysts cover Nvidia stock. Among these researchers, 59 place a rating of “buy” or an equivalent on Nvidia stock. Only one analyst rates Nvidia stock as a sell.
Image source: Getty Images.
While the topics explored above provide some qualitative details surrounding Nvidia’s bullish prospects, let’s dig into the numbers to add some quantitative color around why so many on Wall Street still see Nvidia stock as an attractive value.
A valuation metric that I like to look at is the forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple. This ratio accounts for projected earnings growth in a company — potentially giving investors a glimpse of how optimistic Wall Street is over a company’s future profit potential.
NVDA PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts.
In the chart above, investors can see how Nvidia’s forward P/E has fluctuated throughout the AI revolution. Two key details stick out from the analysis above.
First, Nvidia stock has clearly enjoyed some outsized momentum over the last few months, leading to a prolonged period of valuation expansion. That said, the company’s forward earnings multiple of 40 is materially lower than the prior peak of 51, witnessed early last year.
This is an important nuance to digest. What the trends above are implying is that despite having more tailwinds behind it now — and a greater ability to command even more record profits — Nvidia stock is actually cheaper today than it was in early 2024.
In this case, I am aligned with Wall Street. I think Nvidia is poised to benefit from numerous secular tailwinds as the AI infrastructure boom accelerates. While the stock is not inexpensive, per se, it trades at a relative discount compared to earlier stages of the AI revolution. That makes it an attractive buy-and-hold opportunity for long-term investors right now.
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Adam Spatacco has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Goldman Sachs Group, Home Depot, Intel, International Business Machines, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Walmart, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Meet the Newest Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock in the Dow Jones. It Has Soared 268% Since Early Last Year, and It’s Still a Buy Right Now, According to Wall Street was originally published by The Motley Fool
Stock futures are pointing to a sharply higher open this morning after major indexes closed last week at record highs; investor sentiment is getting a boost after President Donald Trump said he was optimistic the U.S. would reach a trade deal with China and address ownership of social media app TikTok; Avidity Biosciences (RNA) shares are surging after Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis (NVS) said it would acquire the biotechnology firm; and U.S.-listed shares of Argentine companies are soaring after President Javier Milei’s political party posted victories in legislative elections there. Here’s what you need to know today.
1. Major Stock Indexes Poised to Open Higher After Hitting Record Highs
Stock futures are higher this morning amid optimism about an apparent easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China, while investors prepare for an expected rate cut by the Federal Reserve and a flurry of earnings reports from major technology companies later in the week. The three major U.S. stock indexes come into today’s session at record highs after each gained about 2% last week following a mild inflation report that reaffirmed expectations that the Fed will cut its key rate on Wednesday. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 0.5% recently, while those linked to the the benchmark S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.9% and 1.3%, respectively. Bitcoin was trading at $115,400, up from a low over the weekend around $111,000. Gold futures were down 2.6% at $4,030 an ounce, as the precious metal continues to step back from recent highs. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects borrowing costs on a wide array of consumer loans, rose to 4.02% from 4.00% at Friday’s close. Crude oil futures were down slightly at around $61.40 after jumping last week following a move by the U.S. to place sanctions on Russian oil firms.
2. Trump Sounds Positive Note on U.S.-China Trade Talks
President Donald Trump said early Monday that the U.S. is positioned to reach a trade deal with China, as the the president gets set to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea. “I have a lot of respect for President Xi, and we are going to come away with the deal,” Trump said. U.S. and Chinese negotiators over the weekend reached a framework for a trade deal that could result in a reduction of tariffs and trade barriers between the two countries. The deal will reportedly delay the implementation of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports that were slated to begin on Nov. 1, while China’s export controls on rare earth elements are also expected to be delayed as the two sides continue negotiations. Trump also expects the two countries to reach a deal on ownership of the social media app TikTok. The U.S. also announced that separate trade and mineral agreements were reached with Malaysia and Cambodia, while trade pact frameworks were struck with Thailand and Vietnam. Shares of U.S. chipmakers Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), which are seeking to sell into Chinese markets, were both up more than 2% in premarket trading.
3. Trump Says Canada Will Face Additional 10% Tariffs for Reagan Ad
Trump said that the U.S. will slap an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods after the Ontario provincial government ran an ad criticizing tariffs during the World Series on Friday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that broadcasts of the ad would end on Monday. Trump has criticized the ad for featuring comments from former President Ronald Reagan, which he described as a “serious misrepresentation of the facts.” Trump had placed a tariff of 35% on Canadian goods not covered by the USMCA agreement, though tariffs on some products like steel and aluminum are subject to levies of 50%. Trump had previously said trade negotiations with Canada would be “terminated” over the ad.
4. Novartis Agrees to Acquire Biotech Firm Avidity Biosciences
Shares of Avidity Biosciences (RNA) are soaring in premarket trading after Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis (NVS) agreed to buy the biotechnology company in a deal valued at $12 billion. Avidity will spin off part of its early-stage precision cardiology business before closing the deal in the first half of 2026, Novartis said in a statement. “The Avidity team has built robust programs with industry-leading delivery of RNA therapeutics to muscle tissue,” Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said. “We look forward to developing these programs to meaningfully change the trajectory of diseases for patients.” Shares of Avidity jumped more than 40% ahead of the opening bell, while Novartis shares were down about 1%.
5. U.S.-Listed Argentine Shares Rise on President Milei’s Legislative Victory
Shares of U.S.-listed Argentine companies are surging after President Javier Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party won a landslide legislative victory. President Donald Trump had offered to provide financial support for Argentina but said that the bailout hinged on the outcome of the election. “BIG WIN in Argentina for Javier Milei, a wonderful Trump Endorsed Candidate?,” Trump said on Truth Social. Shares of financial services companies Grupo Financiero Galicia SA (GGAL), Banco BBVA Argentina SA (BBAR) and Banco Macro SA (BMA) each gained more than 30% in premarket trading. Shares of oil company YPF (YPF) jumped about 25%, while shares of e-commerce firm MercadoLibre (MELI) added 7%.
