Wall Street Endures Volatile Session As Major Indices Oscillated Thursday – ( $GOVX $NVDA $PLTR $RIO $SLV $TSLA Rise!)
- Published Aug 07, 2025
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Wall Street endured a volatile session as major indices oscillated between cautious optimism and persistent headline risk, finally closing with mixed results. Investors balanced tariff updates, fresh macroeconomic readings, and a flurry of corporate news as the market digested the implications of a changing global trade environment.
S&P 500, Dow 30, Nasdaq, and Russell Index Performance
The S&P 500 slipped 0.08%—closing at 6,340.00—after erasing early session gains, with profit-taking visible in technology and consumer sectors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.51% to end at 43,968.64, weighed by weakness in cyclical industry leaders. The Nasdaq Composite hovered near unchanged, but still rose 0.35% at 21,242.70, as chipmaker outperformance balanced out softness in broader growth names. By contrast, the Russell 2000 endured another lackluster day, trailing as small-cap risk appetite remained muted amid sector rotation and macro uncertainty closing at 2,214.72, -.30%.
Key Macroeconomic Reports
Thursday’s macro calendar brought mixed signals. While U.S. jobless claims remained stable, the Commerce Department reported a fresh uptick in inflation for June, driven in part by newly enacted tariffs. Consumer and business sentiment showed resilience as the GDP continued a strong Q2 rebound at a 3.0% annualized pace, reflecting broad-based consumption even as labor market growth cooled. International trade data revealed a narrowing deficit which allayed some growth concerns, though export demand was tempered by global policy uncertainty.
Tariffs and Trade Policy Updates
Markets fixated on trade headlines as the U.S. rolled out its most formidable wave of “reciprocal tariffs” to date, including a new proposed 100% duty on imported semiconductors. Nevertheless, stocks in the chip sector (notably those with domestic production) rallied after news that many would receive exemptions. President Trump’s announcement of steeper import levies triggered volatility, but investor relief at company-specific carveouts helped moderate losses for the sector.
Yield Curve and Interest Rate Movements
Treasury yields remained little changed as investors weighed mixed inflation signals and continued to price in a roughly even probability of a Fed rate cut at the September FOMC meeting. The 2-year note yield closed at 7.36%% & the 10-yr closed at 4.259%. Credit conditions remain supportive, though caution prevails as policymakers stress their data dependence on forthcoming labor and inflation indicators.
FOMC Announcements
The Federal Reserve issued no new policy decisions Thursday. Central bank officials reiterated a patient, data-driven approach, acknowledging greater flexibility for a potential rate cut in September if economic softness deepens and tariff-related cost pressures ease.
Sector and Stock Highlights
NVIDIA (NVDA)
NVIDIA outperformed its mega-cap tech peers closing at $180.77, +.75% as renewed clarity on semiconductor tariffs reassured investors. With domestic production plans qualifying the firm for duty exemptions, NVDA shares traded higher, buoyed by ongoing strength in AI chip demand and recent technical breakouts. Analysts highlighted the company’s resilient positioning and accelerating product cycles as drivers of positive sentiment.
Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla shares advanced closing at $322.27, +.74% after CEO Elon Musk confirmed development of a next-generation Full Self-Driving model “with ten times the parameters” and major enhancements in AI capability. The company remains a center of market debate on both innovation and tariff exposure, but today’s update reaffirmed Tesla’s prowess in autonomous technology and bolstered investor conviction in its longer-term trajectory.
Meta Platforms (META)
Meta Platforms closed at $761.83, -1.32% & consolidated near record highs following its blowout Q2 earnings. Despite the sector’s intraday volatility, Meta’s forward guidance and AI expansion underpin a bullish stance, with analysts forecasting revenue momentum to persist through Q3. Management’s updated revenue projections—above prior street estimates—continue to inspire confidence among institutional investors.
McDonald’s (MCD)
McDonald’s shares rose slightly +.08% to close at $307.91 fueled by a turnaround in U.S. same-store sales. Management’s value-first strategy reversed a recent domestic sales slump, with global comps and revenue both topping expectations. Analysts, however, cite muted prospects for multiple expansion as a reason for near-term caution, highlighting competitive headwinds and a still-soft low-income consumer backdrop.
Oracle (ORCL)
Oracle shares fell 2.75% to close at $249.39. Fiscal 2025 results revealed double-digit revenue growth, with major upside from cloud infrastructure and multi-cloud offerings. Wall Street continues to endorse Oracle’s growth trajectory, eyeing a robust pipeline in both commercial and public sector AI contracts.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Palantir climbed 1.48% to close at $182.20 after an analyst upgrade from Goldman Sachs, which increased their price target amidst a backdrop of rising government and commercial contract wins. The company reported a record $1 billion revenue quarter, up 48% year-over-year, and is lauded for its execution in AI-driven analytics. Ongoing insider selling received attention but was largely seen as routine profit-taking.
Rio Tinto Group (RIO)
Rio Tinto ($60.77, +1.13%) announced a A$180 million investment in the Norman Creek bauxite mine access project. Although management continued to stress operational discipline and capital allocation, the miner reported a 22% decline in first-half net income, with tariffs and weaker commodities prices weighing on margins. Even so, RIO ended little changed as the new project’s long-term potential helped offset earnings pressure.
Commodities and Digital Assets
- Gold edged 1.44% higher closing at $3,482.70 as a defensive play amid tariff and growth uncertainty.
- Silver closed 1.66% up for the session at $38.53. The iShares Silver trust (SLV) closed at $34.76, +1.19 and is up +34.76% YTD.
- Crude Oil prices fell .82% to close at $63.82/bbl as investors weighed persistent geopolitical risk against softening global growth prospects.
- Bitcoin rose 1.98% to close near $117,980, as ongoing institutional adoption offered support even amid market choppiness.