Markets
Stocks fell last week amid concerns about trade with China, following an unsteady rally to record highs over the first half of the week.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 2.43 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.53 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 2.73 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slipped 1.64 percent.1,2
China In Focus
Meanwhile, focus turned to new export controls that China imposed on so-called rare earth metals—key ingredients for AI-powered microchips and vital resources for the defense industry. Investor concern centered mostly around AI chip companies, which have exposure to China both as customers and in terms of manufacturing.3
The White House threatened to cancel its upcoming meeting with the Chinese president over the dispute. China controls approximately 70 percent of the global supply of rare earth metals, meaning a policy change can impact markets.