Wall Street skyrockets after USTR announces delay to additional tariffs on China

USTR says additional tariffs on some Chinese products will be delayed to December 15.
Trade-sensitive technology shares post strong gains in early trade.
Defensive stocks turn south amid strong risk appetite.

Eren Sengezer FXStreet

After starting the day deep in the negative territory, Wall Street's main indexes rose sharply on the back of renewed trade optimism. As of writing, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 were both up 1.6% on the day while the Nasdaq Composite was adding 2.5%.

According to an official statement published by the Office of the US Trade Representative Lighthizer, the Trump administration decided to delay the additional 10% tariffs on certain Chinese products including a variety of consumer electronics and allowed improved the market sentiment.

The trade-sensitive Technology Index rose sharply on these headlines and was last up 2.3% on the day to lead the rally ahead of Communication Services and Industrial indexes, which were both adding around 1.7%. On the other hand, the defensive Real Estate and Utilities indexes post modest losses to reflect the risk-on atmosphere. In the meantime, the CBOE Volatility Index, Wall Street's fear gauge, is down nearly 11% on the day.

Author

Eren Sengezer

FXStreet

As an economist at heart, Eren Sengezer specializes in the assessment of the short-term and long-term impacts of macroeconomic data, central bank policies and political developments on financial assets.

GBP/USD gathers strength to near 1.3550 as Fed hike bets fade, UK jobs data loom

The GBP/USD pair gains momentum to around 1.3550 during the early Asian trading hours. The US Dollar softens against the British Pound as cooler US inflation data have prompted traders to reduce bets on a US Federal Reserve rate hike. The UK employment report will be in the spotlight later on Tuesday.

EUR/USD flat lines below two-month high amid oil-driven inflation fears

The EUR/USD pair holds steady around the 1.1575-1.1580 region during the Asian session, and for now seems to have stalled the previous day's modest pullback from a two-month top. However, a modest US Dollar uptick warrants some caution before positioning for the resumption of the recent move higher from the 1.1350 area, or the July monthly swing low.

Gold drifts lower amid oil-driven inflation risks and US-Iran tensions

Gold attracts some sellers following a modest Asian session uptick, stalling a two-day move higher from the $4,300 neighborhood. The US Dollar builds on the overnight bounce from a two-month trough as inflation risks stemming from higher crude oil prices underpin prospects for at least one interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve in 2026. Adding to this, the US-Iran standoff keeps the geopolitical risk premium in play and further underpins the safe-haven Greenback, which is seen exerting pressure on the precious metal.

Ripple and Stellar remain under bearish pressure as corrective declines cap upside

Ripple and Stellar remain under pressure as broader market uncertainty and weak technical momentum weigh on both altcoins. XRP is hovering below the key $1 mark on Tuesday while XLM continues its corrective decline below $0.157. Meanwhile, mixed derivatives and on-chain signals indicate cautious sentiment, leaving both cryptocurrencies vulnerable to further downside.

Silver’s new era: Supply deficits meet exploding industrial demand

Silver has experienced a wild ride in 2026, but The Silver Institute President and CEO Michael DiRienzo says investors shouldn’t let the volatility obscure a much bigger story: the underlying silver market remains remarkably strong.

Why is Crude Oil priced for a reopening the ships haven't made?

Fourteen vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. Before the war, the count ran near 120 a day. In the sessions since the waterway was publicly declared open, Brent has drifted back to $87 and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to $81, both a little lower again on Wednesday, with daily momentum on each unwound from the top of its range in late July to the low twenties now.