On November 17, 2025, US stocks faced a worrying downturn for the third consecutive trading day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) declined by 557 points, translating to a 1.2% loss. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) decreased by 0.9%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) fell by 0.8%. This decline was largely attributed to investor uncertainty regarding interest rate cuts and the upcoming earnings report from Nvidia (NVDA).
Despite a slight recovery during the trading session, major indexes struggled to hold gains, reflecting a market still hesitant about the future direction of interest rates. The fear gauge, Cboe Volatility Index (^VIX), rose by more than 12%, signaling increased market anxiety.
The day began with Wall Street fixated on Nvidia's forthcoming earnings announcement scheduled for Wednesday. As one of the industry's most scrutinized events, Nvidia's performance is considered critical to affirming investor confidence in the tech sector amidst potential inflationary pressures and rising rates.
Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) were not spared, dropping nearly 2% as reports surfaced that hedge fund Thiel Macro, founded by investor Peter Thiel, liquidated its stake in the company. This news followed SoftBank's earlier decision to sell off its Nvidia shares, raising alarms over the broader tech landscape's sustainability.
In positive news for the tech sector, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) disclosed it had acquired a stake worth nearly $5 billion in Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), causing Alphabet's stock price to surge by approximately 5.5% during the trading session. This injection of confidence seemed to provide a temporary refuge amid the growing turbulence affecting Big Tech valuations.
However, the majority of sectors did not share in this optimism. Financials (-1.94%), Energy (-1.79%), and Technology (-1.69%) were among the hardest hit, while only the Utilities sector managed to close slightly in the green, up 0.82%. The overwhelming trend was negative, with over 76% of stocks on the NYSE declining.
Attention also turned to the delayed September jobs report, expected for release on Thursday, which aims to provide clarity on the state of the labor market. This data arrives in a context where the Federal Reserve's mixed signals about future interest rate cuts have left traders uncertain; the probability of a cut in December has now fallen to 43.6% from 62% a week prior.
In the cryptocurrency space, Bitcoin (BTC-USD) continued to experience downward pressure, trading at approximately $91,000. This sharp decline reflects a broader sentiment of risk aversion among investors, particularly as Bitcoin has now dropped significantly from its October peak over $126,000.
As the week progresses, investors will remain vigilant, not only for Nvidia's financial results but also for economic indicators that could signal changes in the funding landscape. Retail earnings from companies like Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD), and Target (TGT) are anticipated, potentially providing further insight into consumer strength as retailers navigate these challenging times.