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.

• Gold Stocks: Generally up, with Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Harmony Gold (HMY) rising over 2%.

Space Industry Developments

Elon Musk's SpaceX aims to establish cities on the Moon within 10 years and Mars in 20 years, leading to a surge in space-related stocks.

• Intuitive Machines (LUNR): Up over 2%
• 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.

• Micron Technology (MU): Downgraded to neutral with a target price of $235, citing that most positives are already 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-on-year, surpassing market expectations. The "Hermès Orange" iPhone color gained popularity, helping Apple recover sales in this key market.

• Apple (AAPL): Expected to launch new products soon, including the iPhone 17e and new iPads.

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.

• Nvidia (NVDA): Continues to lead in AI investments.

Meta Platforms Under EU Scrutiny

The EU has issued a statement against Meta for potentially violating antitrust laws by blocking third-party AI assistants from accessing WhatsApp. Meta argues that there are various AI solutions available in the market.

Amazon and STMicroelectronics Partnership

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

Novo Nordisk's Legal Actions

Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers for patent infringement related to its weight loss drugs, causing Hims & Hers stock to drop over 20%.

QuantumScape's Battery Production

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

NatWest's Acquisition Plans

NatWest agreed to acquire Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion, aiming to expand its wealth management services.

BHP's Investment in Copper

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

Sohu's Financial Report

Sohu reported Q4 2025 revenues of $142 million, a 6% increase year-on-year.

Market Predictions and Economic Outlook

Former President Trump predicted the Dow Jones will reach 100,000 by the end of his term, attributing stock market gains to his policies.

Economists criticized the notion that AI could lead to immediate interest rate cuts, highlighting challenges for the incoming Fed chair Kevin Warsh.

Conclusion

The market remains volatile with mixed signals from various sectors, including technology, precious metals, and emerging industries like space and AI. Investors are advised to stay informed on these developments.