On Tuesday, amid global trade uncertainty, U.S. stock investors traded cautiously, with technology and small-cap stocks under pressure. Meanwhile, the market focused on major corporate earnings reports. Strong financial results from 3M and Coca-Cola drove significant stock price increases, lifting the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The three major U.S. stock indices showed mixed performance on Tuesday. At market close, the Dow rose 0.47%, the S&P 500 edged up 0.003%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.16%. The Dow reached a new record closing high.

International Gold and Silver Prices Plunge on the 21st

In precious metals futures, signs of easing global trade tensions reduced safe-haven demand. Additionally, gold prices had just hit record highs on Monday, creating technical overbought conditions and accumulating substantial speculative positions. Many investors took profits ahead of the U.S. September CPI data release, triggering a sharp decline in international gold prices. Silver followed gold’s downward trend, with more volatile price movements due to its smaller market size. New York silver futures fell over 7% for the day. At settlement, December gold futures on COMEX closed at $4,109.1 per ounce, down 5.74%; December silver futures settled at $47.70 per ounce, down 7.16%.

International Oil Prices Rise on the 21st

In crude oil futures, data released by the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday showed U.S. crude inventories fell by approximately 2.98 million barrels last week, far exceeding expectations. This alleviated some investor concerns about weak U.S. oil demand, pushing international oil prices higher on Tuesday. At settlement, November WTI crude futures on NYMEX closed at $57.82 per barrel, up 0.52%; December Brent crude futures settled at $61.32 per barrel, up 0.51%.

Betting on Price Hikes: Coca-Cola and General Motors Beat Earnings Expectations

In corporate earnings, Coca-Cola’s Q3 2025 financial report released pre-market Tuesday showed revenue met expectations, with net profit surging 30% year-over-year to $3.69 billion, primarily driven by a 6% increase in product price mix. Boosted by the results, Coca-Cola’s stock rose 4.06% on Tuesday. However, the report also indicated zero volume growth in key North American and Latin American markets, suggesting potential weakening demand in these regions.

General Motors’ Q3 2025 earnings report released pre-market Tuesday showed adjusted EBIT fell 18% year-over-year, but performed significantly better than analyst concerns. The company expects tariff impact to be slightly lower than previously anticipated, leading to an upward revision of full-year guidance. Future plans include passing more cost pressures to consumers through price increases. Following the report, General Motors stock surged 14.86%, reaching a record closing

Dow Jones Industrial Average

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a major U.S. stock market index that tracks the performance of 30 prominent, publicly-owned companies. It was created in 1896 by Charles Dow and Edward Jones to serve as a proxy for the health of the broader American economy. As one of the oldest and most frequently cited financial barometers, it provides a historical snapshot of market trends and industrial performance.

S&P 500

The S&P 500 is a major U.S. stock market index that measures the performance of 500 large companies listed on American stock exchanges. It was introduced by the financial firm Standard & Poor’s in 1957 and has since become a leading indicator of the health of the U.S. economy and a benchmark for investment funds worldwide.

Nasdaq

The Nasdaq is an American stock exchange founded in 1971, notable for being the world’s first electronic stock market. It is heavily associated with technology and growth companies, with its signature MarketSite tower in Times Square becoming a global symbol of financial markets.

COMEX

COMEX is a Swiss deep-sea exploration and diving company founded in 1966, not a cultural or historical site. It became famous for its pioneering work in commercial diving, underwater engineering, and record-breaking saturation dives, such as the Hydra series, which significantly advanced human capabilities for working at extreme depths.

New York silver futures

“New York silver futures” refers to the trading of standardized silver contracts on the COMEX (Commodity Exchange), which is a major division of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group located in New York. This market was established to allow producers and consumers to hedge against price volatility and has been a global benchmark for silver pricing for decades. Its history is rooted in the development of formal commodities trading in the United States, providing a centralized and regulated venue for this precious metal.

American Petroleum Institute

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, founded in 1919 to set standards and conduct advocacy. It was established post-World War I to promote cooperation, ensure standardization, and represent the industry’s interests to the public and government. Today, it remains a powerful voice in energy policy, research, and the development of equipment and operating standards.

NYMEX

NYMEX is the New York Mercantile Exchange, a leading global marketplace for trading energy products, metals, and other commodity futures and options contracts. It was founded in 1872 as the Butter and Cheese Exchange of New York, later expanding to include other commodities. Today, it is part of the CME Group and remains a vital hub for setting global benchmark prices for commodities like crude oil and natural gas.

WTI crude futures

“WTI crude futures” are not a physical place or cultural site, but a financial contract traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). These contracts represent an agreement to buy or sell West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude oil, a major global benchmark, for delivery in Cushing, Oklahoma. Introduced in 1983, they were created to help oil producers and consumers hedge against price volatility in the oil market.