It's Friday, October 10, 2025, at market close. Below is your easy to follow summary of how the stock market moved during trading hours. At International Business Times, we monitor the S & P, the Nasdaq, cryptocurrencies, and fast-moving tech markets so you don't have to. Let's dive in.
U.S. markets tumbled Friday, snapping recent gains as fears over a renewed U.S.-China trade dispute triggered broad-based selling. All three major indexes finished deep in the red, with tech and growth stocks bearing the brunt of the selloff.
The selloff was sparked by fresh comments from U.S. trade officials hinting at a "massive increase" in tariffs on Chinese imports, particularly rare earths and key tech materials. The rhetoric raised concerns about the potential for a re-escalation in trade tensions — an issue that has long unnerved markets.
Investors responded swiftly, hitting the sell button across most sectors, with technology, industrials, and consumer discretionary stocks leading the decline.
After weeks of relative calm, volatility surged — a reminder that investor sentiment remains fragile. The VIX, Wall Street's so-called "fear index," spiked over 15% intraday, reflecting the market's sensitivity to geopolitical headlines.
Analysts warn that markets could remain choppy in the days ahead as investors assess the likelihood of actual policy shifts and potential retaliatory moves from China. Earnings season is also around the corner, which could further shift the narrative.
S&P 500 Performance (SPY & VOO)
Open: 672.12
Volume: 126.5M
Day Low: 654.12
Day High: 673.92
Year Low: 481.80
Year High: 673.94
The S&P 500 closed sharply lower on Friday, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) falling 2.32% to end the day at $655.60. After opening at $672.12, the index ETF slid steadily throughout the session, hitting an intraday low of $654.12. The steep decline reflected broad-based selling across all major sectors, with nearly 80% of S&P constituents finishing in the red.
Investor sentiment turned risk-averse following renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Fresh threats of increased tariffs on Chinese imports — particularly critical materials — spooked markets, triggering a rotation out of equities and into safer assets. The S&P's decline marked its worst single-day performance in weeks and highlighted the market's vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
NASDAQ Composite Index Performance (QQQ)
Open: 611.35
Volume: 78.3M
Day Low: 590.62
Day High: 613.13
Year Low: 402.39
Year High: 611.75
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) closed the session at $592.95, down $17.75 (−2.91 %) on the day. After opening around $611.35, the ETF slid sharply throughout the session, with its low touching about $590.62. The pronounced drop underscores heavy selling pressure in large growth and technology names, which dominate the Nasdaq‑100.
Investor jitters over renewed U.S.–China trade tensions and tariff escalation led to a flight from riskier assets, putting disproportionate downside on tech and growth sectors. As broader markets weakened, QQQ's close reflected that sectoral fragility, marking one of its worst single‑day performances in recent memory.
Dow Jones Industrial Average Index Performance (DIA)
Open: 465.05
Volume: 8.3M
Day Low: 455.18
Day High: 466.49
Year Low: 366.32
Year High: 470.38
The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) closed at $456.28, down $7.22, or −1.56%, for the day. The selling pressure was steady from the open at $465.05, with an intraday low of $455.18. The slide reflects broad weakness across the 30 large‑cap names that make up the Dow.
The Dow's decline was milder than the tech‑heavy Nasdaq but still notable, as defensive and industrial names struggled in the face of renewed trade war fears. The index's performance highlights how even traditionally more resilient blue‑chip stocks were unable to withstand the broader market's risk aversion.
