By Qamar Zaman | Coffee With Q News
9-Second Elevator Pitch:
“Tariffs are back, China is hitting back, and oil is on a rollercoaster—yet U.S. markets are holding firm. What’s driving the resilience, and where’s the next big opportunity? Let’s break it down.”
Wall Street Brushes Off Trade War Tensions—For Now
Despite rising geopolitical tensions and a fresh round of tariffs, U.S. markets pushed higher midday Tuesday, signaling investor confidence in key sectors.
🔹 China responded to President Trump’s 10% tariff hike with countermeasures, including:
✔️ 10%-15% tariffs on U.S. coal, crude oil, and agricultural machinery
✔️ New restrictions on key mineral exports to the U.S.
✔️ An antitrust probe into Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL, GOOG)
✔️ Adding PVH Corp. (PVH) and Illumina Inc. (ILMN) to the “Unreliable Entity List”
📌 Investors expected a call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping today, but reports suggest it’s delayed.
Oil’s Wild Ride: Trump’s Next Move Could Hit Iran Hard
📉 West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) plunged 3% overnight, briefly hitting $70 per barrel on concerns over trade war fallout.
📈 But prices rebounded after reports that President Trump is considering a memo targeting Iran’s economy, potentially slashing Iranian oil production.
📌 The result? Energy stocks took off.
🔺 Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rose 1.9%
🔻 Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) lagged, down 0.8%
Big Winners: Palantir Skyrockets, Bitcoin Slips
🚀 Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) soared 22% after posting strong earnings and a revenue beat.
💰 Gold extended its all-time high, rising 1%, while silver jumped 2.2% as investors hedged against uncertainty.
🔻 Bitcoin (BTC) dropped 2%, trading at $99,000, as some traders took profits amid a shifting macro environment.
Market Performance: Tech Holds Strong, Dow Lags
📊 Tuesday’s Major Index Moves:
| Index | Price | 1-Day % Change |
| Russell 2000 | 2,281.54 | +1.0% |
| Nasdaq 100 | 21,495.31 | +0.9% |
| S&P 500 | 6,029.97 | +0.6% |
| Dow Jones | 44,501.00 | +0.2% |
📌 ETFs Making Moves:
✔️ SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) rose 0.5% to $600.53
✔️ Invesco QQQ (QQQ) climbed 0.9% to $522.81
✔️ iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) jumped 1.1% to $226.80
Stock Movers: Earnings Shake Up Markets
🔺 Biggest Gainers:
📈 Spotify (SPOT) +10.46%
📈 Ferrari (RACE) +7.62%
📈 ATI Inc. (ATI) +7.02%
🔻 Biggest Decliners:
📉 Estee Lauder (EL) -16.35%
📉 Atkore (ATKR) -20.50%
📉 Premier Inc. (PINC) -15.36%
📌 Post-Market Earnings to Watch:
🟢 Alphabet (GOOGL), AMD (AMD), Chipotle (CMG), Prudential (PRU), and Electronic Arts (EA)
Qamar Zaman’s Takeaway: Where’s the Next Big Play?
📍 Markets are holding up well despite major geopolitical uncertainty—but that doesn’t mean investors should be complacent.
✔️ Energy remains the wildcard—Trump’s Iran play could send oil prices higher.
✔️ Tech is proving resilient—but China’s antitrust probe into Alphabet could shake things up.
✔️ Bitcoin near $100K is a psychological level—watch for potential volatility.
One thing is certain—markets are navigating through a storm, and the real winners will be those who adapt quickly.
📌 This is NOT financial advice! Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
What’s Your Take? Let’s Discuss!
📢 Will Trump’s next move on Iran drive oil prices even higher? Is China’s retaliation a real risk to U.S. markets? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
About Qamar Zaman – (Crypto Q)
Qamar Zaman is a journalist at Coffee With Q, covering financial markets, digital assets, and economic trends. As the Founder of Coffee With Q, based in Grand Cayman, he helps businesses tell their stories through media and personal branding.
📌 For real-time updates, follow me on X → QamarZamanNews