Lola Evans
                
22 Oct 2025, 01:40 GMT+10
            
 
            NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets ended Tuesday's session on a mixed note, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average advancing while the Nasdaq Composite edged lower as investors weighed corporate earnings and global growth prospects.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 218.16 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 46,924.74. The blue-chip index traded between 46,688.25 and 47,125.66 during the session, benefiting from strength in industrial and financial stocks.
The broader S&P 500 index was virtually unchanged, adding just 0.22 points to finish at 6,735.35. The benchmark fluctuated between 6,722.03 and 6,752.16 as traders took a cautious stance following several days of gains.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 18.69 points, or 0.08 percent, to settle at 22,971.85, as selling in major technology names weighed on the sector.
Overall, Tuesday's trading reflected a pause in the recent equity rally as investors awaited key economic data later in the week that could offer fresh clues on the outlook for interest rates and inflation.
U.S. Dollar Powers Higher, Yen Weakens Back Towards Intervention Zone
The U.S. dollar mounted a broad advance in Tuesday's trading, with a sharp rally against the Japanese yen pushing the currency pair back into a territory that has previously provoked intervention from Japanese authorities.
The USD/JPY pair was the standout mover, surging 0.78 percent to 151.90. This level brings the pair alarmingly close to the 152.00 threshold, a line in the sand that prompted a massive, yen-buying intervention by the Japanese government earlier this year after the currency had weakened past 160.
The dollar's strength was widespread. It gained 0.49 percent against the Swiss franc (USD/CHF) to 0.7961 and edged 0.15 percent higher against the Canadian dollar (USDCAD) to 1.4015.
The European majors also softened against the greenback. The EURUSD fell 0.31 percent to 1.1605, and the GBPUSD dropped 0.23 percent to 1.3373.
In the commodity bloc, the Australian dollar fell in tandem, with AUDUSD down 0.31 percent to 0.6491. The New Zealand dollar was a rare exception, managing a minuscule gain of 0.06 percent (NZDUSD) to 0.5746.
Today's price action was driven by renewed strength in the U.S. dollar, fueled by expectations that the Federal Reserve will maintain higher interest rates for longer than other major central banks. The yen's slide back towards its intervention zone was the primary focus for traders, creating a tense environment in the currency markets.
Equity markets around the world finished Tuesday's trading session predominantly in positive territory, with several major indices in Europe and Asia posting solid gains, while a handful of markets bucked the trend with modest losses.
In the UK and Europe, the rally was broad-based. London's FTSE 100 advanced 23.42 points to close at 9,426.99, a gain of 0.25 percent. Germany's DAX rose 71.23 points, or 0.29 percent, finishing at 24,330.03. France's CAC 40 was a standout performer, climbing 52.79 points, or 0.64 percent, to settle at 8,258.86. The broader EURO STOXX 50 edged up 0.10 percent to 5,686.83, while Belgium's BEL 20 gained 0.30 percent.
The positive sentiment carried into Asian trading hours. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index jumped 0.65 percent, and Singapore's STI Index was a top performer with a robust 1.20 percent surge. Australian markets were strong, with the S&P/ASX 200 and the All Ordinaries both rising 0.70 percent.
In other parts of Asia, South Korea's KOSPI added 0.24 percent, and Taiwan's TWSE index gained 0.23 percent. Japan's Nikkei 225 continued its strong run, adding 130.56 points to close at 49,316.06, a 0.27 percent increase.
China's Shanghai Composite also saw significant buying interest, closing up 1.36 percent.
Indonesia's IDX Composite led the regional charge with an impressive 1.84 percent rally, and Malaysia's KLCI moved up 0.60 percent. New Zealand's NZX 50 matched the FTSE's 0.25 percent gain.
India's BSE Sensex eked out a minor gain of 0.07 percent.
However, not all markets shared in the day's optimism. In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite index fell sharply, tumbling 527.62 points, or 1.73 percent, to close at 29,888.82. The decline reflected broad-based weakness across energy, materials, and financial shares amid renewed concerns about commodity demand.
In the Middle East, Israel's TA 125 fell 0.98 percent, and Egypt's EGX 30 dropped 0.73 percent.
A significant decline was seen in the JNOU.JO index in South Africa, which tumbled 3.36 percent.
The day's activity suggested a risk-on mood among investors, driven by a mix of regional economic data and corporate earnings, though the selective declines indicated lingering concerns in certain emerging markets
Related story:
Monday 20 October 2025 | Dow Jones surges 516 points in positive start to week | Big News Network.com
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