Shares of a major credit card issuer reached unprecedented heights on October 17, 2025, following a quarterly earnings report that showcased the company’s impressive performance, driven largely by spending from affluent customers and an overhaul of its high-end credit card offerings. American Express saw its stock climb 7.3%, closing at an all-time peak as revenues surged to a record $18.43 billion, reflecting an 11% year-over-year increase. This positive trajectory was bolstered by strong consumer spending trends among wealthy cardholders, who have increasingly favored the updated premium offerings.
In contrast, gold prices experienced a decline from their recent highs, which negatively impacted shares of Newmont Corporation, the world’s largest gold producer. The stock fell by 7.6% on the day, reversing gains seen earlier in the week when gold prices had reached record levels.
The broader U.S. equity markets ended the trading week on a positive note, with major indices including the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average each rising by 0.5%. This uptick came amid investor reassurances, who appeared unfazed by ongoing concerns related to bad loans at regional banks and the complexities of U.S.-China trade relations.
Kenvue, the parent company of brands like Band-Aid and Neutrogena, saw a recovery in its stock, which jumped 8.4% after a prior session marked by significant losses. The company faced a lawsuit in the U.K. alleging connections between its baby powder products and cancer, raising concerns among investors. Nevertheless, the bounce-back highlighted investor confidence in the company’s fundamentals despite the legal challenges.
Other notable stock movements included Gilead Sciences, which gained 4.2% following a report of positive results from a Phase 3 clinical trial for its cancer treatment Trodelvy, coupled with an optimistic price target upgrade from Goldman Sachs. Similarly, Truist Financial shares rose by 3.7%, driven by a boost in fee income, particularly in wealth management and mortgage banking.
Oracle faced headwinds as its shares plummeted nearly 7%. Despite the company projecting strong sales and profit growth through fiscal year 2030, analysts expressed concerns regarding the vagueness of Oracle’s capital expenditure plans and its heavy dependence on revenue generated from partnerships with companies like OpenAI.
Meanwhile, shares of Moderna fell by 4.2%, amid a growing apprehension about diminishing revenues from its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio and slow progress in diversifying product lines beyond its existing offerings.
Overall, Friday marked a day of mixed fortunes across various sectors, highlighting the ongoing volatility in the markets as both individual company performance and broader economic concerns continued to shape investor sentiment.
