Stock indexes are mixed today, with the S&P 500 down -0.07%, Dow Jones up +0.04%, and Nasdaq down -0.20%. E-mini S&P futures are down -0.03%, and Nasdaq futures are down -0.10%. Regional banks like Truist Financial and Fifth Third Bancorp are up after strong Q3 earnings. Chipmakers and AI stocks are down, impacting the overall market sentiment.

China-US trade tensions ease slightly, with President Trump planning to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Precious metals surge to all-time highs as a safe haven amid trade tensions, US government shutdown, and credit quality concerns. The government shutdown delays key economic reports, affecting market sentiment.

Earnings season begins with 78% of S&P 500 companies beating forecasts. Q3 profits expected to rise +7.2% y/y, while sales growth slows to +5.9% y/y. Markets predict a -25 bp rate cut at the next FOMC meeting. Overseas markets are lower, with German and UK bond yields moving higher.

Cryptocurrency stocks fall as Bitcoin hits a 2.75-month low. AST SpaceMobile, State Street Corp, Eli Lilly, and Micron Technology are down. Occidental Petroleum falls after a stock downgrade, while Jeffries Financial Group rises. American Express, Zions Bancorp, Truist Financial, CSX Corp, Fifth Third Bancorp, and Huntington Bancshares are up after strong Q3 earnings reports.

Read more at Nasdaq: Stocks Mixed as Chipmakers Slip and Bank Stocks Stabilize