All major US stock indexes have been in the red, with the Nasdaq down over 1 per cent so far in 2025. Consumer confidence survey further dampened investor sentiment, pushing the Fear & Greed Index into the extreme fear zone for the first time since December 2024. Technology stocks, which have led the charge in recent years, have shown signs of vulnerability. In stark contrast, global markets have shown resilience. Europe’s STOXX 600 Index has risen nearly 10 per cent in 2025 while Chinese equities have outperformed the US in the first two months of 2025. The cryptocurrency has plunged by around 16% in the past month and is now trading around $88,000. At the same time, last week, retail giant Walmart rattled the market by warning of slower sales growth in 2025, giving rise to fears of an economic slowdown. Stocks like Nvidia, Palantir and even Elon Musk’s Tesla were among the hardest hit in a recent selloff a few days ago, with Tesla’s market value dipping below $1 trillion after an 8.4 per cent drop.
