Rock, Paper, Tariffs: Trump Challenges Xi in the Global Supply Chain Showdown

The Rare Earth Rumble is on.

In a move that reignites one of the fiercest rivalries in global trade, President Donald Trump has fired back at China’s sweeping new rare earth restrictions with threats of “massive” tariffs. His Truth Social tirade on October 10 shook Wall Street, sending the S&P 500 tumbling nearly 50 points before clawing back.

Beijing’s decision to expand export curbs to cover rare earth tech, magnets, and overseas production licensing effectively weaponizes its dominance, 70% of supply and 90% of processing. 

Trump’s response? Cancel his meeting with Xi Jinping and double down on tariffs. 

It’s not just political theater. It’s a high-stakes standoff over the future of semiconductors, EVs, and defense. As one analyst put it, “Trade wars aren’t tweets, they’re tectonic shifts.”

“We’re Not Far Ahead of China Overall”: Jensen Huang Sounds the Alarm on the Global AI Race

In one of the most revealing tech interviews of the year, Jensen Huang sat down with CNBC’s Squawk Box to map out the future of AI, and how NVIDIA plans to power it.

From his early partnership with OpenAI to his belief that “AI now reasons,” Huang offered a sweeping vision for what he calls a new industrial revolution. NVIDIA isn’t just selling chips, it’s building the global infrastructure for intelligence.

He spoke on everything from AMD’s 10% OpenAI stake, to xAI’s potential, to America’s race with China, and even U.S. immigration policy. The unifying thread: vision, scale, and speed.

That’s not incremental progress, it’s exponential. Twice.

“Don’t Call It a Comeback”: MEME ETF Rises From the Dead

Roundhill’s MEME ETF is back, and it’s betting big on the power of retail investors.

This actively managed fund marks a strategic shift from its 2021 predecessor, blending data-driven metrics with social sentiment to capture the heartbeat of modern retail trading.

Here’s a closer look at the fund’s key holdings and the forces shaping its return:

• Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) – betting on real estate disruption and social buzz.

• Plug Power (PLUG) – tapping into clean energy volatility.

• Applied Digital (APLD) – riding the AI infrastructure wave.

• QuantumScape (QS) – a favorite among EV and battery innovation enthusiasts.

• Cipher Mining (CIFR) – a play on crypto infrastructure.

• Rigetti Computing (RGTI) & Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) – pure exposure to the quantum computing frontier.

• Bloom Energy (BE) – bridging energy tech and retail excitement.

• Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) – the social media darling of health-tech.

• IonQ (IONQ) – another quantum leader capturing retail interest.

The MEME ETF’s revival reflects more than nostalgia, it’s a signal that retail investors have become an enduring force, reshaping Wall Street one trend at a time.

Order Up! Stan Wong’s Portfolio Is Ready to Serve

Stan Wong of Scotia Wealth Management is leaning into quality growth as markets brace for rate cuts and renewed optimism.

His top picks for October 2025 paint a clear picture of where opportunity lies:

• DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) for its logistics dominance.

• Expedia Group (NASDAQ: EXPE) for its role in the travel renaissance.

• Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) for its unmatched digital advertising reach. 

With inflation moderating and investor confidence rising, Wong sees large-cap strength and disciplined diversification as the winning formula heading into 2026. 

Quality. Scale. Staying power. That’s the Stan Wong strategy.

Small Caps, Big Energy: The Underdogs Are Barking Back

Small-cap stocks are finally shaking off their long slump. The Russell 2000 (^RUT) just posted its best quarter since 2021, with real earnings growth leading the way.

Bank of America’s Jill Carey Hall said it best: “Small caps just emerged from their EPS recession.” That momentum is showing up in companies like Marcus Corporation (MCS), where upgraded forecasts mark the strongest pace since mid-2022.

Meanwhile, analysts at Goldman Sachs Asset Management see an “abundance of interesting opportunities” across the small-cap market, a view echoed by Lou Basenese, Executive Vice President at Prairie Operating Company, who calls the Fed’s latest rate cut “a boon for small-cap balance sheets.” 

With the Federal Reserve easing and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) trading at stretched valuations, small-caps are suddenly looking like the smarter value play. Even Bespoke Investment Group notes that the Russell just broke a 967-day streak without a new high.

The underdogs are back… and they’re not staying small for long.

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