US close: Stocks jump as trade tensions, shutdown concerns ease
By Benjamin Chiou
Date: Monday 20 Oct 2025
(Sharecast News) - US stocks rose strongly on Monday, closing in on record highs reached earlier this month, on the back of improving sentiment regarding trade tensions and hopes that the government shutdown could end this week.
The Dow gained 1.1% to finish at 46,706.58, its first close above the 46,700 mark since settling at an all-time high of 46,758.28 on 3 October. The S&P 500 also jumped 1.1% to 6,735.13, within a whisker of its peak of 6,753.72 reached on 8 October, while the Nasdaq rose 1.4% to 22,990.54, its highest since 9 October.
"This is a big week for tech; it is the start of the sector's Q3 earnings season," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, with Netflix, Intel and Tesla among the heavyweights to release results.
"Expectations are high, and analysts have been revising their earnings expectations higher in recent weeks. [...] Earnings revisions have been a key driver of the uptrend in equities, and upside quarterly revisions have been a key driver of US stocks this year alongside momentum and a preference for growth stocks. Due to this, Netflix could set the tone for this quarter's tech earnings."
No major data points were scheduled for release on Monday, but traders were getting ready to finally receive some insight into the state of the US economy later this week, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index scheduled to be released on Friday.
Trade, shutdown tensions ease
Comments from president Donald Trump, who said he is up for meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, have helped thaw concerns about the recent escalation of trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Trump on Monday expressed confidence that the two nations would reach a "fantastic deal" following the meeting.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said on Friday that US-China relations had "de-escalated" and that he now expected to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in the coming week, raising hopes that the threatened 100% tariff hike on Chinese imports from 1 November may be avoided.
There was also a glimmer of hope regarding the US government shutdown - now in its fourth week - after National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said it would "likely to end sometime this week". Hassett said that moderate Democrats could help broker a deal, and noted that the White House was prepared to take stronger action to end the 20-day stoppage if no agreement was reached.
Market movers
Tech behemoth Apple was a strong performer after reports that the iPhone 17 was outselling the previous model by more than 10%. The shares were up 4% at a new record closing high of $262.24.
Netflix, Intel and Tesla were all putting in decent gains ahead of their earnings later this week.
United States Antimony Corp jumped 20% after the metals group announced the proposed takeover of Australian outfit Larvotto Resources, in which it already owns a 10% stake.
CRM software company Salesforce was extending gains made last week after the firm's 2030 outlook smashed the market's expectations, forecasting revenues of more than $60bn within five years.
Dow Jones - Risers
Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $254.28 4.61%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $38.10 2.95%
Unitedhealth Group Inc. (UNH) $364.48 2.21%
Boeing Co. (BA) $216.82 1.82%
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) $86.32 1.80%
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) $763.32 1.67%
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $303.37 1.53%
3M Co. (MMM) $154.78 1.40%
Travelers Company Inc. (TRV) $265.25 1.24%
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) $111.96 1.17%
Dow Jones - Fallers
Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) $21.63 -1.19%
Home Depot Inc. (HD) $388.89 -0.77%
Walmart Inc. (WMT) $107.05 -0.63%
McDonald's Corp. (MCD) $307.77 -0.10%
S&P 500 - Risers
Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) $63.00 9.05%
TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) $16.58 8.30%
Zions Bancorporation (ZION) $51.98 4.65%
Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $254.28 4.61%
Newmont Corporation (NEM) $94.89 4.54%
Kohls Corp. (KSS) $16.17 4.39%
Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $99.47 4.20%
KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) $1,152.80 4.17%
eBay Inc. (EBAY) $95.65 3.96%
CenturyLink Inc. (LUMN) $7.16 3.77%
S&P 500 - Fallers
Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $214.40 -4.88%
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) $277.19 -4.85%
Coty Inc. Class A (COTY) $4.13 -4.84%
Progressive Corp. (PGR) $219.38 -2.76%
Bath & Body Works, Inc. (BBWI) $25.78 -2.72%
Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) $38.28 -2.40%
H&R Block Inc. (HRB) $51.37 -2.32%
Western Union Co. (WU) $8.10 -2.29%
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $523.39 -1.90%
Robert Half Inc. (RHI) $30.81 -1.72%
Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $14.39 4.73%
Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $99.47 4.20%
KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) $1,152.80 4.17%
eBay Inc. (EBAY) $95.65 3.96%
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $121.94 3.51%
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) $1,238.56 3.27%
NetEase Inc. Ads (NTES) $152.82 3.11%
Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $343.40 3.04%
PACCAR Inc. (PCAR) $97.48 2.95%
Intel Corp. (INTC) $38.10 2.95%
Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $214.40 -4.88%
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $523.39 -1.90%
Incyte Corp. (INCY) $86.22 -1.54%
Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) $69.75 -0.67%
O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) $100.98 -0.61%
Biomarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) $53.07 -0.41%
Marriott International - Class A (MAR) $259.98 -0.33%
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) $182.64 -0.32%
Vodafone Group Plc ADS (VOD) $11.66 -0.04%
Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) $349.24 -0.03%
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