Stocks Rise as President Trump Eases Tough Stance on China

Market Performance: The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq indexes are all up today, recovering from last Friday's losses, driven by a softer stance from the Trump administration on trade with China and positive trade data from China.

Gold and Interest Rates: Gold prices have surged to an all-time high due to central bank buying and safe-haven demand amid geopolitical tensions, while the markets are anticipating a 99% chance of a rate cut by the Federal Reserve at the upcoming meeting.

Corporate Earnings Outlook: Rising corporate earnings expectations are supporting stock prices, with over 22% of S&P 500 companies forecasting better-than-expected Q3 results, although overall profit growth is projected to be the smallest in two years.

Sector Movements: Chipmakers and technology stocks are leading the market rally, while defensive sectors like food and beverage producers are declining. Notable stock movements include Estee Lauder and Warner Bros Discovery rising significantly, while casino stocks are down due to disappointing revenue data from Macau.