US Stock Market Outlook: Ongoing Sell-off, Gold Surges, STMicroelectronics Rises on Amazon Deal

US Stock Market Overview

As of Monday morning, US stock futures showed mixed results. The Dow futures fell by 0.11%, the Nasdaq futures dropped by 0.32%, and the S&P 500 futures decreased by 0.15%.

Notable Stock Movements

• Micron Technology (MU): Down over 2%
• Oracle (ORCL): Up nearly 3%
• Chinese Stocks: Most declined, with Bilibili (BILI) and Li Auto (LI) down over 3%, and JD.com (JD) and NIO down over 1%.

Precious Metals Performance

Gold and silver prices rebounded, with spot gold rising above $5000, driven by a weaker dollar. Silver also climbed above $80.

• Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Harmony Gold (HMY) both rose over 2%.

Space Industry Developments

Elon Musk's SpaceX aims to establish cities on the Moon within 10 years and Mars in 20 years. The space sector saw a pre-market surge, with Intuitive Machines (LUNR) up over 2% and Destiny Tech100 (DXYZ) up over 1%.

Semiconductor Supply Concerns

Goldman Sachs raised its expectations for semiconductor supply shortages, predicting a significant gap in DRAM by 2026. Despite a decline in smartphone and PC demand, strong server demand is expected to maintain market tension. Surprisingly, Goldman downgraded Micron Technology (MU) to neutral with a target price of $235, citing that most positive news has already been priced in.

Bitcoin and Tesla Speculations

A prominent host suggested that Bitcoin's drop to $60,000 triggered the White House to bet on a merger between Tesla and SpaceX. Cathie Wood's space ETF made its first purchase of Tesla shares, indicating a potential merger bet.

Apple’s Strong Performance in China

Apple reported a revenue of $25.5 billion in Greater China for Q1 2026, a 38% increase year-over-year, surpassing market expectations. The "Hermès Orange" iPhone color gained popularity, helping Apple reverse its sales decline in China.

Nvidia's Capital Expenditure Insights

Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang stated that the tech sector's capital expenditure on AI infrastructure is sustainable, with major companies planning to invest over $600 billion by 2026.

Meta Platforms Under EU Scrutiny

The EU has issued a statement of objections against Meta for potentially violating antitrust laws by blocking third-party AI assistants from accessing WhatsApp. Meta responded, arguing that there are various AI solutions available.

Amazon and STMicroelectronics Partnership

Amazon and STMicroelectronics announced a multi-billion dollar partnership to enhance data center construction, with STMicroelectronics' stock rising over 6%.

Novo Nordisk's Legal Actions

Novo Nordisk's stock rose nearly 6% after it filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers for patent infringement, leading to a drop of over 20% in Hims & Hers' stock.

QuantumScape's Production Update

QuantumScape's stock rose nearly 10% as it began pilot production of solid-state batteries at its California facility.

NatWest's Acquisition Plans

NatWest announced a £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners, aiming to expand its wealth management services, leading to a nearly 7% drop in its stock.

BHP's Investment in Copper Mining

BHP plans to double its investment in its Argentine copper mining project to $800 million amid a global copper shortage.

Sohu's Financial Report

Sohu reported Q4 2025 revenue of $142 million, a 6% increase year-over-year, with online gaming revenue contributing significantly.

Market Predictions and Economic Outlook

Former President Trump predicted that the Dow Jones Industrial Average could reach 100,000 points by the end of his term in 2029, attributing stock market gains to his tariff policies.

Conclusion

The market is currently experiencing volatility, with various sectors showing mixed performance. Investors are closely monitoring developments in technology, space, and precious metals as they navigate the evolving economic landscape.