Big Banks Kick Off Earnings, but China Tensions Loom 14/10/2025

HOT stories for today

Market wrap:

• U.S. stocks surged on Monday as easing trade worries between the United States and China lifted investor sentiment. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average each rose more than 1%, with the S&P notching its most substantial one-day gain since May 27. The Dow logged its best session since September 11, snapping a five-day losing streak and recouping about two-thirds of Friday’s losses.
• The rebound followed a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump that helped temper concerns over escalating trade frictions. Technology shares led the advance, with Oracle, AMD, and Nvidia climbing broadly. Meanwhile, OpenAI and Broadcom announced plans to co-develop custom datacenter hardware, fueling optimism across the tech sector.
• Crypto markets also rebounded after last week’s historic selloff, with Bitcoin climbing back above $114,000, though analysts warned of continued volatility. Oil prices edged higher as U.S.–China tensions cooled, with Brent crude trading near $63.50 a barrel and WTI around $59.70. Gold rallied past $4,000 per ounce, hitting a record high as investors sought safe-haven assets amid lingering global uncertainty.
• Investors are now turning their attention to the start of earnings season, with JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo set to report on Tuesday. Analysts expect investment banking and trading revenues to rise for a seventh consecutive quarter. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is also scheduled to speak later today, potentially shaping the market’s next direction.

China sanctions U.S. Firms, pressuring Global Markets

• However, China’s latest move could overshadow Monday’s rebound. On Tuesday, Beijing added five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to its sanctions list, citing their alleged role in Washington’s investigation into China’s shipping industry, a step that further strains U.S.–China relations.
• The sanctioned entities, Hanwha Shipping LLC, Hanwha Philly Shipyard Inc., Hanwha Ocean USA International LLC, Hanwha Shipping Holdings LLC, and HS USA Holdings Corp., are now barred from doing business with Chinese organizations or individuals, according to the Commerce Ministry. The decision came in retaliation for Washington’s new fees on Chinese vessels docking at U.S. ports, effective early Tuesday.
• The announcement weighed on sentiment across global markets. U.S. stock futures slipped by about 0.4%, while Asian markets traded mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was down 0.6%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was off by over 1%, and China’s Shanghai Composite was marginally higher. European stocks also opened lower, with the Stoxx 600 down roughly 0.5%, led by weakness in industrial and shipping shares.

Stocks on the move:

• Energy, battery, and rare-earth stocks also soared. Oklo ($OKLO 16.21%) powered higher, lifting the entire nuclear sector. Other nuclear names followed suit, including $SMR (14.73%) and $NNE (18.79%), after fissile supplier Urenco announced plans to boost output by 15% over the next two years. The tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed more than 2%.
• Critical metals and materials stocks surged as well — Critical Metals ($CRML 55.41%) and MP Materials ($MP 21.34%) both advanced sharply. American Battery Technology ($ABAT 36.59%) jumped after reports that years of testing and regulatory review had culminated in its Nevada development project nearing completion.

Watchlist: OKLO, MP, JPM, WFC, C, JNJ, DPZ, GS, NVDA, AVGO

Key Economic Events Today:

EST time

06:00 am: USD NFIB Small Business Index
08:45 am: USD FOMC Member Bowman Speaks
08:45 am: USD FED Chair Powell Speaks
03:25 pm: USD FOMC Member Waller Speaks



Earnings

BMO (Before Market Open):
JPMorgan Chase ($JPM), Wells Fargo ($WFC),Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ), Citigroup ($C), Goldman Sachs ($GS), BlackRock ($BLK), and Domino’s Pizza ($DPZ)


The TEFS Analyst team wishes you a successful day!