Market Wrap | Gold surges 27% as trade tensions fuel hedge fund bets, Tesla shares rise 3.52% on robotaxi progress, Mill City Ventures jumps 218.92%

On July 25, 2025, the S&P 500 Index rose by 0.40%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.47%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.24%. Hedge funds have increased bullish bets on gold to the highest level since April, influenced by ongoing US-EU trade tensions, which have driven gold prices up by 27% this year. Meanwhile, European Central Bank member Joachim Nagel supports maintaining stable interest rates amid US tariff uncertainties and stable inflation.

Based on the current market performance, several sectors outperformed the S&P 500, including the healthcare, non-essential consumer goods, materials, industrial, and financial sectors. Notably, the non-essential consumer goods, materials, and industrial sectors demonstrated exceptional performance. Conversely, the energy, communication services, and real estate sectors moved in the opposite direction of the S&P 500.

Tesla shares rose 3.52% today, driven by positive developments in the robotaxi sector. The electric vehicle giant has been making strides in autonomous driving technology, which has investors optimistic about its future prospects.

Mill City Ventures saw a significant surge, rising over 218.92%, with analysts suggesting that the stock may be undervalued, indicating substantial upside potential. Meanwhile, SMX experienced a notable increase of 89.29%, driven by the GENIUS Act, which legitimizes SMX's Plastic Cycle Token as a federal-backed digital asset for sustainability tracking. On the other hand, Erayak Power and OceanPal both faced declines, with Erayak Power dropping 38.74% due to the sale of shares at a reduced price, potentially diluting existing shareholder value. OceanPal also saw a decrease of 38.25%, resulting from an increase in outstanding shares and a changed Series C conversion price.

James Blair, a White House assistant, expressed interest in potentially returning to the Federal Reserve, which could influence financial market expectations regarding monetary policy decisions. Hedge funds have increased their bullish bets on gold to the highest level since April amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and the EU, signaling investor sentiment towards safe-haven assets. Joachim Nagel from the European Central Bank stated that maintaining current interest rates is appropriate, considering stable inflation and economic prospects amidst US tariff uncertainties, which could affect global financial markets. A US federal judge has postponed the Boeing 737 MAX crash hearing, impacting Boeing's legal and financial outlook as the company navigates its deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice.