The S&P 500 closed higher in volatile trading on Tuesday as investors closely monitored movements in commodities, electric vehicles, and tech stocks. Here’s what’s shaping the market:
Gold, Copper, and Mining Stocks
Gold has surged 19% in 2025, while copper has climbed 25%. The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) hit a high Tuesday before closing 0.2% lower. Rio Tinto’s U.S.-traded shares are up 2.4% this year, though down 19% from May 2024 highs. BHP remains flat year to date, with shares 23% below October’s peak. Freeport-McMoRan shares are also flat and down 30% from last May’s highs.
Tesla and Rivian: EV Numbers in Focus
Business Headline US’s Phil LeBeau is tracking Q1 delivery figures from Tesla and Rivian. Tesla jumped 3.6% Tuesday but remains 45% below its December high. Rivian rose 6.7%, gaining 12% in a month, though it is still down 30% from its July high.
Boeing Faces Senate Scrutiny
CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took over at Boeing on August 8, is set to testify before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. Boeing shares are up 3% under his leadership but down 14% from July highs and 8% in the last five days.
Software Stocks Struggle
Tech firms Adobe, Oracle, Salesforce, and ServiceNow continue to decline. Adobe is down 35% from its September peak, while Oracle has fallen 28% since December. Salesforce and ServiceNow have dropped 27% and 32%, respectively.
Retail Resurgence & Health Care Woes
Consumer stocks saw gains, with Ralph Lauren up 3.7% and Tapestry rising 3.5%. However, health care was the worst-performing sector, declining 1.75%, with pharmaceuticals and biotech dropping nearly 3% amid reports of 10,000 layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Investors are bracing for another session of potential swings as market uncertainty remains high.
