U.S. stock futures declined on Wednesday following a muted day of trading on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were lower in premarket.



The Donald Trump administration levied a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle"> 245% tariff on China</a> late Tuesday. &#8220;China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions,&#8221; stated a White House fact sheet.



Meanwhile, the new U.S. export restrictions halting the shipments of Nvidia Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker"> H20 graphics processing units to China</a> were announced. The announcement comes after the U.S. government informed the company on April 9 that it would now require a license to export those chips.



The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.31% and the two-year bond was at 3.81%. The CME Group's FedWatch <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">tool&#8217;s </a>projections show markets pricing a 79.9% likelihood of the Federal Reserve keeping the current interest rates unchanged in its May meeting. 



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Futures</td><td>Change (+/-)</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.07%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.44%</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>-1.08%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>-0.35%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, fell in premarket on Wednesday. The SPY was down 0.67% to $534.02, while the QQQ declined 1.27% to $452.17, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.



Cues From Last Session:



Weighing on U.S. stocks Tuesday, the consumer discretionary, health care, and consumer staples sectors saw the biggest declines.



Bucking the trend, however, information technology and real estate stocks closed higher.



The market moves came as Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>) and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, while economic data showed a rise in the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index and flat export prices alongside a slight drop in import prices for March.



The Dow closed Tuesday 10.44% below its 52-week peak of 45,073.63. The S&amp;P 500 ended 12.21% off its 6,147.43 high, and the Nasdaq 100 was 15.27% below its 22,222.61 record.



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Index</td><td>Performance (+/-)</td><td>Value</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq Composite</td><td>-0.049%</td><td>16,823.17</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>-0.17%</td><td>5,396.63</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>-0.38%</td><td>40,368.96</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>0.11%</td><td>1,882.92</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Insights From Analysts:



According to Mona Mahajan of Edward Jones, the stock valuations were not stretched anymore. &#8220;While market returns have been negative this year, the upside is that valuations are now looking more compelling and are no longer stretched, which was a concern coming into this year.&#8221;



She highlighted that all major indexes were trading at or below their 10-year historical forward price-to-earnings multiples, potentially setting the stage for improved long-term returns.



The S&amp;P 500 forward multiple was around 18 times next year&#8217;s earnings forecast, down from a recent high of 22.7 times, while the Nasdaq forward multiple was about 21 times, down from its recent high of 30 times.



&#8220;In our view, the spike in volatility, a reset in valuations, and signs that the worst-case scenario in the trade war appears to be averted suggest that stocks may find some support and try to carve out a bottom. Risks have risen, but a recession is not inevitable in our view, and stocks appear to have already priced in a significant degree of bad outcomes,&#8221; she added.



Jason Goepfert of White Oak Consultancy LLC noted a historical pattern: whenever the VIX fear index drops from above 50 to the 30 level, the S&amp;P 500 has historically achieved 100% positive gains by year-end.



However, he points out that in the most recent such cycle in May 2020, the S&amp;P 500&#8217;s return after a year was 42.96%. Goepfert&#8217;s analysis of similar cycles in 2009, 2002, and 1988 also reveals a short-term median loss of 0.7% for the S&amp;P 500 in the week following the VIX&#8217;s drop to 30.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The VIX cycle from &gt; 50 to &lt; 30 is on track to trigger today. A bear killer. <a href="https://t.co/rzvdiBw37G">pic.twitter.com/rzvdiBw37G</a>&mdash; Jason Goepfert (@jasongoepfert) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasongoepfert/status/1912145727448363174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



According to an X post by Charlie Bilello of Creative Planning, historical data since 1990 showed that the S&amp;P 500 has delivered an average return of 35% in the year following a VIX close above 50, and 129% over the subsequent five years.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24VIX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$VIX</a> closed above 50 last week for the first time since April 2020. In the past, what has that meant for stocks going forward? Video discussion: <a href="https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH">https://t.co/YYVlqL4IlH</a> <a href="https://t.co/iEy9Wb5myJ">pic.twitter.com/iEy9Wb5myJ</a>&mdash; Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) <a href="https://twitter.com/charliebilello/status/1912220992963035233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-trade-futures">How to Trade Futures</a>



Upcoming Economic Data



Here&#8217;s what investors will keep an eye on Wednesday:



<ul>
<li>March&#8217;s U.S. retail sales will be out by 8:30 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Industrial production and capacity utilization data for March will be announced at 9:15 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Business inventories for February and the home builder confidence index for April will be out by 10:00 a.m. ET.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack will speak at noon.</li>
</ul>



Stocks In Focus:



<ul>
<li>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>) rose 0.74% in premarket on Wednesday as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $1.07 per share on revenue of $10.40 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Travelers Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRV#NYSE">TRV</a>) was up 0.076% as Wall Street expects it to report earnings of 80 cents per share on revenue of $10.82 billion before the opening bell.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>Progressive Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) fell 0.01% as it is expected to report earnings before the opening bell. Analysts expect a quarterly earnings of $4.81 per share on revenue of $21.63 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) dropped 4.2% despite beating earnings estimates as its revenue and EPS fell on a sequential basis.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>J B Hunt Transport Services Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBHT#NASDAQ">JBHT</a>) dropped 6.28% after reporting a 7.6% decline in profit for the first quarter. The company posted quarterly revenue of $2.92 billion, compared to market estimates of $2.90 billion.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>iCAD Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ICAD#NASDAQ">ICAD</a>) surged 72.02% and Radnet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDNT#NASDAQ">RDNT</a>) fell 2.03% after they announced a definitive all-stock merger agreement where RadNet will acquire iCAD.</li>
</ul>



<ul>
<li>La Rosa Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRHC#NASDAQ">LRHC</a>) jumped 119.16% after Nasdaq granted a 180-day extension, until October 6, 2025, to regain the $1.00 minimum bid price for continued listing under &#8216;LRHC&#8217;.</li>
</ul>



Commodities, Gold, And Global Equity Markets:



Crude oil futures were trading higher in the early New York session by 0.60% to hover around $61.70 per barrel.



Gold Spot US Dollar advanced 2.38% to hover around $3,304.35 per ounce. Its fresh record high stood at $3,318 per ounce. The U.S. Dollar Index spot was lower by 0.51% at the 99.7040 level.



Asian markets declined on Wednesday, except India's S&amp;P BSE Sensex, China&#8217;s CSI 300 index. Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Japan's Nikkei 225, Australia's ASX 200, and South Korea's Kospi index ended lower. European markets were also mostly lower in early trade.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle">Trump Administration Imposes Up To 245% Tariff On Chinese Imports Amid Intensifying Trade Battle</a></li>
</ul>



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US Stock Likely To Open Lower As US-China Tariff War Continues: 'Valuations Are Now Looking More Compelling,' Says Expert

On Tuesday, April 15, U.S. markets closed lower amid ongoing tariff uncertainty and weakness in consumer and healthcare stocks. Gains in Bank of America and Citigroup provided some support, though bank executives warned of risks to consumer spending if trade tensions persist. Boeing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44822589/boeing-stock-is-sliding-tuesday-whats-going-on" rel="noreferrer noopener">fell</a> after China suspended jet deliveries, while the auto and pharmaceutical sectors also came under pressure from new tariff threats.



On the economic front, the NY Empire State Manufacturing Index improved to -8.1 in April from -20 in March. Export prices were unchanged in March, while import prices declined by 0.1% following a 0.2% gain in February.



Most S&amp;P 500 sectors ended the day lower, led by losses in consumer-related stocks, though information technology and real estate outperformed, closing higher amid broader market weakness.



The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.38% to 40,368.96, the S&amp;P 500 slipped 0.17% to 5,396.63, and the Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.05% to 16,823.17.



Related: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44830406/nvidia-to-take-55-billion-hit-over-china-chip-export-restrictions-but-top-analyst-dan-ives-says-hes-not-overly-concerned-all-part-of-the-high-game-of-poker" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia To Take $5.5 Billion Hit Over China Chip Export Restrictions — But Top Analyst Dan Ives Not Overly Concerned: &#8216;All Part Of The High Game Of Poker</a>



Asia Markets Today



<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, Japan&#8217;s Nikkei 225 fell 1.03% to close at 33,913.00, led by losses in the Paper &amp; Pulp, Transport and Communication sectors.</li>



<li>Australia&#8217;s S&amp;P/ASX 200 was down 0.04% and closed at 7,758.90, led by losses in the Energy, IT and Healthcare sectors.</li>



<li>India&#8217;s Nifty 50 was up 0.48% at 23,441.20, and Nifty 500 rose 0.61% to 21,408.30.</li>



<li>China&#8217;s Shanghai Composite rose 0.26% to 3,276.00, and Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 increased 0.31% to 3,772.82.</li>



<li>Hong Kong&#8217;s Hang Seng Index fell 1.91% to 21,056.98.</li>



<li>The Hang Seng index dropped as major Chinese tech firms like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent fell up to 5% after Nvidia warned of a $5.5B hit from new U.S. chip export controls, threatening AI chip access in China.</li>
</ul>



&nbsp;Eurozone at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The European STOXX 50 was down 0.79%.</li>



<li>Germany&#8217;s DAX declined 0.55%.</li>



<li>France&#8217;s CAC 40 fell 0.65%.</li>



<li>U.K.&#8217;s FTSE 100 index traded lower by 0.47%.</li>
</ul>



Commodities at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>Crude Oil WTI was trading higher by 0.85% at $61.84/bbl, and Brent was up 0.79% at $65.18/bbl.</li>



<li>Natural Gas fell 2.22% to $3.255.</li>



<li>Gold was trading higher by 2.44% at $3,319.35, Silver was up 1.96% to $32.930, and Copper fell 0.90% to $4.5840.</li>



<li>Gold surged to a record high as U.S.-China trade tensions, Nvidia&#8217;s warning, and economic uncertainty boosted safe-haven demand and pressured global tech and copper markets.</li>
</ul>



U.S. Futures at 05:45 AM ET



Dow futures were down 0.01%, S&amp;P 500 futures declined 0.54% and Nasdaq 100 futures slid 1.19%.



Forex at 05:45 AM ET



<ul>
<li>The U.S. Dollar Index declined 0.54% to 99.63, USD/JPY was down 0.22% to 142.86, and USD/AUD slid 0.945% to 1.5709.</li>



<li>The dollar fell sharply Wednesday amid renewed trade tensions and investor anxiety over erratic U.S. tariff policy. It hit a 10-year low against the Swiss franc and a seven-month low versus the yen.</li>
</ul>



Photo via Shutterstock

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Asia Mixed, Europe Slides; Gold Hits $3,300 As Trade War Escalates - Global Markets Today While US Slept

In the latest development in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict, U.S. President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;has called upon China to initiate negotiations.



What Happened: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed Trump&#8217;s sentiments during a Tuesday press briefing, stating, &#8220;The ball is in China's court. China needs to make a deal with us. We don't have to make a deal with them.&#8221; Trump&#8217;s remarks underscore China&#8217;s reliance on the American consumer, implying that the Asian giant needs U.S. funds.



This recent turn of events indicates that both nations are holding their ground, with no immediate end to the trade dispute in sight. The ongoing conflict has resulted in both countries implementing substantial trade barriers.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="White House on Trade Talks: ‘The Ball Is in China's Court' &#x7C; WSJ News" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwqRxN26V4Y?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



Trump is currently reviewing over 15 proposals from various countries and has expressed his preference to personally approve all deals. The White House insists that China must kick off the discussions, while Beijing is unclear about the specific demands of the U.S.



SEE ALSO:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/25/04/44831978/senator-josh-hawley-proposes-historic-tax-cuts-for-americans-earning-below-80k-annually-republicans-should-fix-th" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Josh Hawley Proposes &#8216;Historic&#8217; Tax Cuts For Americans Earning Below $80K Annually: &#8216;Republicans Should Fix This Now&#8217;</a>



Why It Matters: The Trump administration has<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44831287/trump-administration-imposes-up-to-245-tariff-on-chinese-imports-amid-intensifying-trade-battle"> imposed a tariff </a>of up to 245% on Chinese imports in response to China&#8217;s retaliatory actions.



Furthermore, the trade dispute has had a direct impact on the aviation industry. On Tuesday, China reportedly instructed its airline companies to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44822589/boeing-stock-is-sliding-tuesday-whats-going-on">halt deliveries</a> of Boeing jets, leading to a decline in Boeing Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>) shares. President Trump expressed discontent over this and posted on his Truth Social: &#8220;..they just reneged on the big Boeing deal&#8221;.



The shares of Boeing fell 2.39% to close at $155.52&nbsp;on Tuesday, as per <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">BenzingaPro</a>. 



President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to launch a national security investigation on critical minerals—The move aims to challenge China's dominance in rare earth supply chains and battery minerals, as the U.S. seeks to become self-sufficient in its critical minerals supply.



Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has set out on a tour of Southeast Asia to strengthen trade ties with allies amid mounting U.S. tariff pressures.



<ul>
<li>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44779863/warren-buffetts-son-sold-his-berkshire-stock-inheritance-to-buy-something-infinitely-more-valuable-than-the-500-million-it-would-be-worth-today" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Son Sold His Berkshire Stock Inheritance To Buy Something &#8216;Infinitely More Valuable&#8217; Than The $500 Million It Would Be Worth Today &#8211; Benzinga</a></li>
</ul>



Image via Shutterstock



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

'The Ball Is In China's Court': Trump Says As White House Awaits Beijing's Call — 'China Needs To Make A Deal With Us'

More than a decade after Snap Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNAP#NYSE">SNAP</a>) turned down a multibillion-dollar buyout from Facebook, the failed deal is back in the spotlight as Mark Zuckerberg testifies in Meta Platforms Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44805013/mark-zuckerberg-takes-the-stand-as-landmark-antitrust-trial-threatens-to-break-up-metas-137-trillion-empire-trial-will-show-what-every-17-year-old-in-the-world-knows-says-spokesperson">high-stakes antitrust trial</a>.



What Happened: On Tuesday, during his second day on the witness stand, Zuckerberg addressed a 2013 email in which he offered $6 billion to acquire Snapchat—double the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/13/11/4077625/facebooks-3-billion-offer-rejected-by-snapchat">$3 billion previously reported</a>, according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-meta-antitrust-trial-snapchat-buyout-bid-2025-4">a</a> report by Business Insider.



"I delivered the offer to Evan and he seemed to take it well," Zuckerberg wrote in the email, referencing Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. "He told me he thought he could get it done and that he'd call me back quickly."



The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43557821/evan-spiegel-takes-a-shot-at-mark-zuckerberg-over-meta-copying-snapchats-features-on-instagram-and-facebook">deal never materialized</a>. Zuckerberg told the court he believed Snapchat "wasn't growing at the potential that it could" and added, "If we would have bought them, we would have accelerated their growth, but that's just speculation."



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44778760/netflix-debuts-openai-backed-search-engine-that-lets-you-discover-movies-and-tv-shows-based-on-emotions-not-just-titles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Netflix Debuts OpenAI-Backed Search Engine That Lets You Discover Movies And TV Shows Based On Emotions, Not Just Titles</a>



The Federal Trade Commission introduced the email as part of its argument that Meta pursued acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate competition and maintain dominance in the social media space.



Snap spokesperson Monique Bellamy told the publication, "Anticompetitive behavior can often slow and thwart growth for smaller companies… Meta's attempt to buy Snap, and then egregiously copy its features, was an attempt to do just that."



While testifying, Zuckerberg acknowledged that Snapchat was and continues to be a significant competitor.



Why It's Important: The FTC's lawsuit could reshape the tech landscape. It accuses Meta of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44821791/meta-platforms-used-buy-or-bury-strategy-to-monopolize-social-media-ftc-says">using a "buy or bury"</a> strategy to suppress rivals, potentially forcing the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.



Meta denies wrongdoing, arguing it faces strong competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube, the platform owned by Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google.



Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.



The trial is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/04/44781970/star-trek-quoting-judge-boasberg-once-targeted-by-trump-could-decide-if-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-gets-to-keep-instagram">expected to last eight weeks</a>.



On Monday, the trial revealed internal strategies, such as Zuckerberg&#8217;s unexecuted plan to reset all Facebook users&#8217; connections in 2022, aimed at keeping the platform culturally relevant.



Price Action: On Tuesday, Meta's stock fell by 1.87%, closing at $521.51, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>.



META holds a momentum rating of 60.72% and a growth rating of 74.91%, based on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META">Benzinga's proprietary Edge Rankings</a>.



The Benzinga Growth score measures a stock's past earnings and revenue growth over various timeframes, emphasizing both consistent long-term performance and recent trends.



<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Click here to see how it compares</a> to Snapchat, Alphabet, and other major companies.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/META"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/16040327/Screenshot-2025-04-16-at-1.33.22%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-873643" style="width:378px;height:auto"/></a></figure>



Read More:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/25/04/44735140/most-people-dont-have-the-balls-to-do-it-says-mark-cuban-praising-musk-for-going-all-in-with-his-own-money-f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘Most People Don&#8217;t Have The Balls To Do It,&#8217; Says Mark Cuban, Praising Musk For Going ‘All In&#8217; With His Own Money For His Startups</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Poetra.RH / Shutterstock.com

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Mark Zuckerberg Defends Meta In FTC Trial Over $6 Billion Offer To Acquire Snapchat: 'We Would Have Accelerated Their Growth'

As the Nasdaq 100 reeled from April's tariff-driven sell-off, retail traders doubled down on risk rather than retreating, injecting billions into ultra-leveraged tech ETFs in a high-stakes bet on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets">a swift market rebound.</a>



While the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) — the world's largest ETF tracking the Nasdaq 100 — pulled in $4.44 billion in inflows last Thursday, marking its biggest single-day influx since March 2021, the real fireworks erupted in the most leveraged corner of the tech market.



The trading activity revealed a bold resurgence of dip-buying appetite, particularly in vehicles designed to magnify returns from the Nasdaq 100 Index. 



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">TQQQ Becomes The Go-To Vehicle For Tech Dip-Buying Mania</h3>



According to ETF.com's senior analyst Sumit Roy, "Nowhere is this phenomenon more obvious than in the ProShares UltraPro QQQ (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TQQQ#NASDAQ">TQQQ</a>), the No. 1 ‘buy-the-dip' target among traders."



Despite plunging 57% from its February high to its early-April trough, traders continued pouring money into the ETF. 



Since Feb. 19, TQQQ has seen $7.1 billion in net inflows—$3.1 billion of which arrived after April 2, the day President Donald Trump reignited trade war fears by announcing new "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners.



This surge in interest reflects not just dip-buying behavior, but leveraged dip-buying, underscoring a growing appetite for risk in a market environment defined by geopolitical uncertainty and heightened volatility.



On April 3, the ETF dropped 16%, followed by another 18% loss on April 4. Then, just five days later, it rocketed 35% higher.



From its low on April 9, TQQQ has surged nearly 30%, clawing back losses but still sitting 45% below its February peak. The Nasdaq 100 itself dropped 23% at its worst point during the same stretch.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">History Repeats? Traders Eye 2022-24&#8217;s 477% Rally</h3>



The current setup has echoes of the 2022 bear market. Back then, the Nasdaq 100 tumbled 35% from peak to trough amid aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes. 



TQQQ lost a staggering 80% during that period—but for those who caught the exact bottom, the rewards were extraordinary. The ETF rallied 477% between its 2022 low and its December 2024 peak.



&#8220;The prospect of that type of massive gain is luring traders to pour money into the ETF,&#8221; said Roy. 



&#8220;Of course, there's no guarantee that things will play out like they did last time. In fact, the only thing you can count on with TQQQ is volatility,&#8221; he added.



Despite the broader economic uncertainty tied to tariffs, traders seem undeterred, leaning into heightened volatility in search of strong upside potential.



The takeaway from recent flows is clear: investors are ready to ride out the market's twists and turns.



Read Next: 



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44816653/canada-eases-retaliatory-tariffs-on-us-goods-as-trade-tensions-thaw-under-softer-trump-stance-stocks-react">Canada Eases Retaliatory Tariffs On US Goods As Trade Tensions Thaw Under Softer Trump Stance: Stocks React</a></li>
</ul>



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Retail Traders Rush Into Leveraged Tech ETFs, Betting On Nasdaq Rebound After Sharp Drop

NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) stock has had a mixed 2025 with several boosts related to keynote speeches given by CEO Jensen Huang, including an all-time high around his<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/03/44313558/nvidia-stock-reached-all-time-highs-after-jensen-huangs-ces-keynote-will-next-weeks-gtc-spark-another-surge"> keynote at CES.</a>



Investors will likely be hoping for another strong keynote from Huang in May at an upcoming conference.



What Happened: Huang announced several product updates, roadmap updates<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44383445/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-announces-gm-partnership-the-time-for-autonomous-vehicles-has-arrived"> and a partnership </a>with General Motors Company at Nvidia's GPU Technology Conference in March.



While those items weren't enough to lift Nvidia stock to all-time highs, shareholders could have another potential catalyst on the docket for Sunday, May 18.



Huang will be one of the keynote <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-will-deliver-first-keynote-at-computex-2025-sharing-latest-ai-advancements-and-breakthroughs-302398053.html">speakers </a>at COMPUTEX 2025, a <a href="https://events.computextaipei.com.tw/en/Keynote.aspx">conference </a>sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council that will take place at the Taipei Music Center.



The Nvidia CEO will be the first featured keynote at the event with a livestream at 11 a.m. local time Monday, May 19 (Sunday, May 18, 8 p.m. PT).



Huang will outline Nvidia's latest advancements and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and accelerated computing technologies, according to a news announcement.



"As a leader in AI, NVIDIA continues to push the boundaries of innovation in accelerated computing, physical AI, agentic AI, and scientific discovery – turning yesterday's impossibilities into today's reality," the announcement reads.



COMPUTEX 2025, with the theme "AI Next," will focus on the three major themes of AI and robotics, Next-Gen Tech, and Future Mobility. The event will take place in Taiwan from May 20 to May 23.



Qualcomm (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) CEO Cristiano Amon, HonHai (Foxconn) chairman Young Liu, MediaTek CEO Dr. Rick Tsai and NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NXPI#NASDAQ">NXPI</a>) executive VP Jens Hinrichsen will also give keynote speeches at COMPUTEX 2025.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/02/43991607/nvidia-q4-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-demand-for-blackwell-is-amazing">Nvidia Q4 Earnings Highlights: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, &#8216;Demand For Blackwell Is Amazing&#8217;</a>



Why It's Important: Huang's keynote comes as Nvidia is expected to report first-quarter financial results in late May, around the conference dates. This could mean Nvidia investors have several catalysts that will happen quickly.



With the speech taking place in Taiwan and the time zone making it happen on a Sunday when the markets are closed, the stock could get an early boost on Monday, May 19, depending on what Huang says.



On Tuesday, Nvidia <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/geforce/news/rtx-5060-desktop-family-laptop-5060-coming-soon/">announced </a>the latest updates to the GeForce RTX 5060 Desktop Family. The RTX 5060 Ti will be available on April 16 for $379, and the RTX 5060 for Laptops will be available in May for $299.



"NVIDIA is the world leader in graphics and AI, and our goal with GeForce RTX is and has always been to advance the state-of-the-art in real-time computer graphics," the company said.



NVDA Price Action: Nvidia stock traded at $111.22 on Tuesday versus a 52-week trading range of $75.61 to $153.13. Nvidia stock is down 19.5% year-to-date in 2025, while shares remain up 29.5% over the last year.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41888032/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-said-nvidia-has-no-long-term-strategy-how-this-philosophy-is-similar-to-his-reason-to-not-wear-a-watch">Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Doesn&#8217;t Wear A Watch After A Gardner Taught Him The Secret Of Time</a></li>
</ul>



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Nvidia Stock Could Get Boost From Another Jensen Huang Keynote Speech: Here's The Date And Details

In a high-stakes antitrust trial that began Monday in Washington, D.C., the Federal Trade Commission called on Meta Platform, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging these deals formed part of an illegal &#8220;buy or bury&#8221; strategy to monopolize <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44799581/no-expiration-date-on-metas-antitrust-case-says-former-ftc-chair-ahead-of-trial">social networking. </a>



The Details: Prosecutors highlighted a 2008 email in which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly stated it was &#8220;better to buy than compete,&#8221; framing the Instagram purchase as a tactic to neutralize a rising competitor.&nbsp;



Zuckerberg testified for three hours on the trial's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44807557/mark-zuckerberg-proposed-wiping-all-friends-connections-and-make-users-start-again-to-keep-facebook-culturally-relevant-antitrust-trial-reveals">first day </a>and argued that Meta's acquisitions were necessary to adapt to evolving user preferences. The Meta CEO also pointed to competition from TikTok and YouTube Shorts as evidence of a dynamic market.&nbsp;



Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/04/44817229/chinese-tiktok-influencers-expose-cheap-nike-lululemon-suppliers-to-bypass-trump-tariffs">Chinese TikTok Influencers &#8216;Expose&#8217; Cheap Nike, Lululemon Suppliers To Bypass Trump Tariffs</a>



Meta's legal team emphasized that regulators originally approved the deals and that consumer behavior, such as switching to Instagram during TikTok outages, demonstrates robust competition in the market.



Former FTC Chair Lina Khan spoke out on Monday, saying the case against Meta is about &#8220;free and fair trade.&#8221;



&#8220;There&#8217;s no expiration date when it comes to the illegality of the transaction. I think there is a way in which the entire social networking ecosystem looks different today because Facebook was permitted to go out and make these acquisitions," Khan told CNBC.



The trial could result in Meta being forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg's testimony is expected to continue on Tuesday as both sides grapple with defining the boundaries of social media competition in a rapidly shifting digital landscape. 



Price Action: According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?gspk=YWRhbWVja2VydDUzMzY&amp;gsxid=zBMR4PKmcgBw">Benzinga Pro</a>, Meta Platforms shares were down 1.95% at $521.14 at the time of publication Tuesday. 



Read Next:



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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44695907/elon-musk-calls-trump-trade-advisor-peter-navarro-dumber-than-sack-of-bricks-defends-tesla-as-the-most-american-made-cars">Elon Musk Calls Trump Trade Advisor Peter Navarro &#8216;Dumber Than Sack Of Bricks,&#8217; Defends Tesla As &#8216;Most American-Made Cars&#8217;&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

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Meta Used 'Buy Or Bury' Strategy To Monopolize Social Media, FTC Says

Wall Street gained ground by midday trading on Tuesday, as investor concerns over the economic impact of trade tensions continued to ease following recent signs that the Trump administration was taking <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44812727/bessent-says-tariffs-on-china-are-far-from-a-joke-dismisses-treasury-dumping-fears">a more conciliatory approach.</a>



All major indexes were in positive territory, with tech stocks leading the way thanks to strong performances by Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), both rising about 6%.



The streaming giant climbed following a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/netflix-aims-to-join-the-1-trillion-club-fdacb250">Wall Street Journal report</a> that it plans to double revenue by 2030, citing sources. Netflix is set to release its first-quarter earnings on Thursday after market close.



The S&amp;P 500 has now recovered nearly 80% of the losses suffered after Trump's tariff announcement on April 2.



Among sectors, financials led the gains, climbing 1.3%, supported by strong earnings reports from Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) and Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), which surged 4.3% and 3.8%, respectively.



The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) rebounded 0.5%, aiming to end a five-day losing streak, while Treasury yields declined further, easing fears of a potential sell-off of U.S. assets by foreign investors. Yields on the 10-year Treasury fell five basis points to 4.33%, following an 11-basis-point drop on Monday.



In commodities, gold edged up 0.4% to $3,223 per ounce, while oil prices slipped 0.8% to $61 per barrel. Natural gas dropped 1.6% to $3.25 per million British thermal units, approaching its lowest level since mid-December 2024.



Crypto markets remained relatively quiet, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rising 0.5% to $85,000.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Major Indices</td><td>Price</td><td>1-day chg %</td></tr><tr><td>Nasdaq 100</td><td>18,934.51</td><td>0.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Russell 2000</td><td>1,888.28</td><td>0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>S&amp;P 500</td><td>5,424.34</td><td>0.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Dow Jones</td><td>40,639.56</td><td>0.3%</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:20 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>



According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:



<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 0.3% to $540.87.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) inched 0.1% higher to $405.36.</li>



<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;increased 0.7% to $460.14.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) edged 0.4% higher to $187.22.</li>



<li>The&nbsp;Financial&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, up 1.3%; the&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.5%.</li>
</ul>







<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Top 5 Gainers On Monday</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Netflix, Inc. </td><td>5.88%</td></tr><tr><td>Palantir Technologies Inc.</td><td>5.18%</td></tr><tr><td>Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>)</td><td>4.87%</td></tr><tr><td>CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRWD#NASDAQ">CRWD</a>)</td><td>4.53%</td></tr><tr><td>Bank of America Corporation </td><td>4.38%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>







<h1 class="wp-block-heading">S&amp;P 500&#8217;s Worst 5 Losers On Monday</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><thead><tr><th>Company</th><th>% Change</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALB#NYSE">ALB</a>)</td><td>-4.25%</td></tr><tr><td>Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: МОH)</td><td>-3.66%</td></tr><tr><td>Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBH#NYSE">ZBH</a>)</td><td>-3.14%</td></tr><tr><td>Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>)</td><td>-2.94%</td></tr><tr><td>The Campbell&#8217;s Company (NYSE: СРB)</td><td>-2.75%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Read Now: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/25/04/44817677/citigroup-ceo-jane-fraser-bets-us-will-still-be-worlds-leading-economy-and-dollar-the-reserve-currency-after-trade-uncertainty-settles">Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser Bets US Will &#8216;Still Be World&#8217;s Leading Economy&#8217; And Dollar &#8216;The Reserve Currency&#8217; After Trade Uncertainty Settles</a></li>
</ul>

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Stocks Edge Up On Strong Bank Earnings, Netflix Soars, Dollar Rebounds: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

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