US Stocks Close: Dow Drops Over 600 Points, Some Tech Stocks Rebound, CrowdStrike Gains Over 8%

TradingKey - On Friday, October 23, Eastern Time, US stocks diverged as the sell-off concentrated in tech stocks in the previous trading session spread to other sectors. Consumer and healthcare stocks moved lower; some chip stocks rebounded, while market concerns over a renewed escalation of the US-Iran conflict pushed WTI crude oil prices above $100 per barrel.

At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.23% to 52,215.16; the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 0.21% to 25,955.34; and the S&P 500 Index lost 0.52% to 7,623.68.

Tech Stock Performance

CrowdStrike (CRWD) rose 8.25% to $257.57.

A critical PHP security vulnerability caused service disruptions across multiple government websites in Europe and other regions, drawing market attention to the demand for protection as AI accelerates the discovery of software vulnerabilities. According to Reuters, some website operators were forced to take their websites offline after failing to complete patches before hackers exploited the vulnerability. Seven cybersecurity professionals believe that the AI-driven wave of vulnerability discovery is almost certain to trigger more similar large-scale outages.

The performance of major tech stocks today is shown in the chart below:

The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index gained 0.44% to 10,779.46 points. Among its 30 constituents, 17 rose and 13 fell.

Company News

SpaceX Reportedly in Talks to Access About 80,000 Cell Towers to Advance U.S. Mobile Business

SpaceX is in talks with cellular infrastructure companies, including Crown Castle, seeking access to at least 80,000 cell sites in the U.S., Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. SpaceX plans to integrate its existing satellite network with terrestrial cell towers to push forward its U.S. mobile telecommunications business. The arrangement remains in the negotiation stage, with no final agreement or service rollout schedule disclosed.

Potential SpaceX-Tesla Merger Faces Antitrust Risks

A potential merger between SpaceX and Tesla carries antitrust risks, with the key issue being whether the transaction would restrict other companies from accessing relevant technologies, Semafor reported, citing a former U.S. Department of Justice official. The official cited an example, stating that if only Tesla vehicles were able to use SpaceX technology like Starlink in the future, other autonomous driving or electric vehicle manufacturers could be adversely affected. This assessment depends on specific transaction terms and does not represent a decision already made by regulatory authorities.

Intel Obtains One-Year FCC Waiver to Continue Maintaining Critical Robotic Equipment

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a one-year waiver for Intel, allowing it to perform software, firmware, and hardware updates on specific foreign-made automated guided vehicles used in its U.S. fabrication plants to avoid disruptions to its semiconductor manufacturing operations. Intel previously stated that these vehicles carry out in-plant material transport and that mature U.S. alternatives meeting requirements are currently lacking, adding that replacing the equipment could take years and impact production.

Industry & Macro News

Iranian Officials Say Subsea Cable Strike Plan Formulated as Risks to Middle East Telecom Infrastructure Rise

According to a Reuters report, two senior Iranian security officials stated that Iran has drawn up plans to strike subsea communications cables in the Gulf region if the U.S. and Israel attack Iran again. One official added that Iran could also obstruct repairs to damaged cables to prolong communication outages. Such threats could impact internet access, financial transactions, e-commerce, and cloud computing services across the Gulf region. Alan Mauldin, research director at TeleGeography, pointed out that international bandwidth routed through the Strait of Hormuz accounts for less than 1% of the global total, meaning the overall global impact may be limited, though regional network disruptions and wartime repair challenges remain significant concerns.

U.S. Said to Plan Elimination of 50% Tariffs on Certain Canadian Goods

According to The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter, the Trump administration plans to eliminate 50% tariffs facing certain Canadian agricultural and forestry-related products, an action that could be announced as early as Friday local time, though the specific scope and timing remain subject to change. The U.S. may simultaneously raise tariffs on other Canadian goods to offset the reduction. The report stated that the move is intended to assist Maine Senator Susan Collins and other Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. Collins has repeatedly urged mitigating the impact of tariffs on local businesses and consumers. White House officials stated that official tariff decisions will be announced by the administration.