Trending Sectors | Energy Surges, Tech and EVs Struggle, AI and Chips See Turbulence, Retail and Banks Show Mixed Results

【Major U.S. Stock Indices】

The three major U.S. stock indices showed mixed results. The S&P 500 edged up 0.03% to 6068.50 points, the Dow Jones rose 0.28% to 44593.65 points, while the Nasdaq fell 0.36% to 19643.86 points. The gains in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones were mainly driven by heavyweight stocks like Coca-Cola and Apple, while the decline in the Nasdaq reflected the weak performance of tech stocks.

【Performance of Leading Tech】

Among the leading tech giants, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Google A all recorded slight declines, falling by 0.19%, 0.58%, 0.16%, and 0.62% respectively. Notably, Tesla plummeted by 6.34%, hitting its lowest closing level since November last year, mainly due to pressure from competitor BYD's strong performance in the electric vehicle sector. On the contrary, Meta rose 0.33% against the trend, while Apple saw a 2.18% increase after unveiling new sports earbuds, making it the best performer among the seven giants.

【AI and Chip Sector Performance】

The AI sector generally declined, with NVIDIA leading the fall among related stocks, down 0.58%. Meanwhile, Intel's stock rose 6.07% thanks to positive market feedback for its latest processors and U.S. government support for the AI and chip industries. Although ASML, a chip equipment and materials company, increased by 1.20%, the overall sector showed mixed results. Notably, rumors of OpenAI planning to develop its own AI chips could pose competitive pressure on chip giants like NVIDIA.

【Electric Vehicle Sector Movement】

The electric vehicle sector remained under pressure, with Tesla experiencing a significant drop of 16.24% over five consecutive days. Chinese EV startups also generally declined, with NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto falling by 6.58%, 6.82%, and 4.93% respectively. In contrast, traditional automakers showed relative stability, with Toyota and General Motors slightly up by 0.44% and 0.27%.

【Oil and Gold Stocks Performance】

Oil stocks generally rose, with Chevron leading the gains at 1.06%. The energy sector benefited from expectations that Trump's tariff policies might force OPEC to extend production cuts. Conversely, gold stocks broadly declined, with Barrick Gold and Newmont falling by 2.12% and 2.07%, despite international gold prices reaching new historical highs.

【Cryptocurrency and Meme Stock Performance】

Cryptocurrency-related stocks saw a broad decline, with Coinbase Global and MicroStrategy down by 4.75% and 4.53%, respectively. Among meme stocks, AMC Entertainment rose 4.42% against the trend, while GameStop fell 2.06%. The volatility in the cryptocurrency market continues to affect the short-term performance of related stocks.

【Other Notable Sectors】

The retail sector showed mixed performance, with Home Depot and Target rising by 0.60% and 0.88%, while Walmart and Costco declined by 0.44% and 0.34%. Among bank stocks, JPMorgan Chase saw the largest increase at 1.52%, benefiting from its proactive plans in technology spending.

【Market Summary and Recommendations】

Overall, the U.S. stock market exhibited a divided performance across various sectors, contrasting the weakness in tech stocks with the relative stability of traditional industries. Investors should be aware of the short-term volatility risks in tech stocks while considering defensive investment opportunities in the energy and traditional consumer sectors. Furthermore, given the high volatility in cryptocurrency and meme stocks, it is advised that investors remain cautious to avoid excessive chasing and selling.