Wall Street Indexes Looked Higher Amid Earnings Optimism, Berkshire Hathaway's Cash Soared to Record High

Barry Adams
03 Nov, 2025
New York City

Wall Street indexes flatlined on Monday, as investors looked forward to a new batch of earnings from leading corporations. 

The S&P 500 index edged up 0.2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite inched higher 0.3% amid earnings optimism.

Benchmark indexes extended their gains last week, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite edged up 2.3%, and the S&P 500 index gained 4.7%.  

This week investors are anticipating another batch of earnings releases and key economic updates on international trade, labor markets, and household spending. 

The prolonged U.S. federal government shutdown is expected to continue, and investors are set to review key economic data, including ADP employment data, the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, and ISM Manufacturing and Services PMIs. 

Investors are anticipating quarterly results from Berkshire Hathaway, Uber, AMD, Pfizer, Qualcomm, and ConocoPhillips. 

In international trading, benchmark indexes in China, South Korea, India, and the eurozone edged higher as investors hoped that receding US-China trade tensions would bring near-term stability.

Under the latest framework agreement, the U.S. will pause additional 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, and China will curb its latest restrictions on rare-earth mineral exports to the U.S.

Gold extended its two-week losses after Fed Chair Jerome Powell said December's rate cut is not certain. 

The U.S. federal government shutdown entered its sixth week, and lawmakers are not ready to compromise as a food-payment assistance program covering 42 million citizens runs out of money. 

 

U.S. Stock Movers 

Rare-earth stocks retained their upward bias as critical minerals became the latest focus of the US-China trade rivalry. 

Critical Metals Corp. edged up 0.1% to $12.82, Energy Fuels Inc. decreased 1.0% to $20.10, NioCorp Developments declined 7.4% to $7.37, and Idaho Strategic Resources edged up 5.4% to $34.0.  

Berkshire Hathaway Class B edged 1.2% to $484.20, and the diversified conglomerate said operating earnings rose 33% in the third quarter. 

The property and casualty insurance company did not repurchase any of the stock in the latest quarter, as cash on hand surged to a record high of $382 billion.

Kimberly Clark agreed to acquire Kenvue for $48.7 billion, and the merged company with revenue of $32 billion will have a portfolio of 10 billion-dollar brands, including Kleenex, Huggies, Tylenol, and Band-Aid. 

Kenvue was spun out of Johnson & Johnson in May 2023, at an initial price of $22 a share, valuing the company at $41 billion.