Tech Stocks Take a Hit as Trade War Continues

The S&P 500, officially known as the Standard & Poor’s 500, is a revered stock market index tracking the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States[1]. Managed by S&P Dow Jones Indices—a joint venture majority-owned by S&P Global—the S&P 500 is widely recognized as a leading barometer of the U.S. stock market and, by extension, the broader economy[1][7]. It accounts for roughly 80% of the total market capitalization of U.S. public companies, with an aggregate value exceeding $57 trillion as of August 2025[1]. The index is weighted by market capitalization, meaning larger companies exert a greater influence on its movements[1][2]. Its top holdings include tech giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, and Alphabet, which together represent a significant portion of the index’s total value[1]. ## History and Evolution The S&P 500 traces its origins to 1923, when the Standard Statistics Company (later becoming Standard & Poor’s) launched an index of 233 companies[3]. In 1957, it expanded to include approximately 500 companies, formalizing the structure familiar today[3]. Over the decades, the index has evolved into a cornerstone of global finance, reflecting the dynamism of the U.S. economy and the rise of sectors like technology, healthcare, and consumer goods. ## Purpose and Impact The S&P 500 serves multiple critical roles: it is a benchmark for investment portfolios, a basis for passive index funds and ETFs, and a key input for economic forecasting tools like the Conference Board Leading Economic Index[1][6]. For companies, inclusion in the S&P 500 is prestigious and financially impactful, often triggering significant buying activity as funds tracking the index adjust their holdings[2]. For investors, the index offers a convenient, diversified exposure to the U.S. equity market through index funds and ETFs[4

Dow Jones & Company, Inc., commonly known as Dow Jones, is a renowned American publishing firm that has been a cornerstone of financial journalism since its inception in 1882 by Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. The company is best known for publishing **The Wall Street Journal**, **Barron's**, **MarketWatch**, and other prominent financial publications[1][7]. ### History and Key Achievements - **Founding and Early Years**: Dow Jones began as a provider of financial news and statistics. Charles Dow and his partners founded the company, which initially published the **Customer's Afternoon Letter**, a precursor to **The Wall Street Journal**[3][4]. - **Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA)**: The DJIA, introduced on May 26, 1896, is one of the world's oldest and most influential stock market indices. It tracks the performance of 30 major U.S. companies across various sectors[5][8]. - **Expansion and Diversification**: Over the years, Dow Jones has expanded its reach through the launch of new publications and services, including **Professional Investor Report**, **Asia Business News**, and **European Business News**[7]. ### Current Status Today, Dow Jones is owned by News Corp, a global media conglomerate led by Rupert Murdoch[1]. The company continues to play a significant role in financial journalism and data services. Dow Jones has successfully transitioned from print to digital platforms, offering a wide range of financial information services and community newspapers[7]. ### Notable Aspects - **Dow Theory**: Charles Dow's work laid the foundation for the "Dow Theory," which provides insights into stock market movements and trends[6]. - **Innovations**: Dow Jones has been at the forefront of financial journalism innovations, including the transition to online platforms with **Wall Street Journal Interactive**[7]. - **Global Reach**: The company's publications and services are

Intel Corporation is a leading American multinational technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced semiconductors that power computing devices globally. Founded in 1968, Intel pioneered the development of microprocessors, becoming the dominant supplier of x86-based processors for PCs, servers, and other computing platforms. The company is known for its continuous innovation in semiconductor technology and its role in shaping the modern computing landscape. Intel's recent technological advancements include the launch of the Intel® Core™ Ultra series 3 processors (code-named Panther Lake) and Intel® Xeon® 6+ processors (Clearwater Forest), both built on the cutting-edge Intel 18A semiconductor node—currently the most advanced manufacturing node in the United States. These products are manufactured at Intel’s state-of-the-art Fab 52 facility in Chandler, Arizona, showcasing Intel's commitment to domestic production and technological leadership[1]. In the face of intense competition from rivals such as AMD and the architectural shifts exemplified by Apple’s move to its own silicon, Intel has been undergoing significant restructuring. This includes workforce reductions by approximately 15%, aiming to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and focus on core growth areas like AI and data centers. Financially, Intel reported solid demand and revenue resilience, with Q2 2025 revenue reaching $12.9 billion, exceeding guidance despite challenges from one-time costs and impairments[3][5]. The company is also enhancing its foundry business and AI roadmap to strengthen its competitive position and long-term shareholder value[3]. Intel’s strategic partnerships, including a $5 billion investment by Nvidia to jointly develop CPUs, and talks of adding AMD as a foundry customer, highlight its adaptive approach to industry dynamics[6]. Despite recent challenges and market shifts, Intel remains a crucial player in the semiconductor industry, advancing AI-enabled platforms and maintaining a significant impact on the global technology ecosystem[1][6].

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is a leading American multinational technology company specializing in high-performance computing and adaptive technologies. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with major operations in Austin, Texas, AMD designs and develops central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), system-on-chips (SoCs), and other high-performance components used across a broad spectrum of markets including gaming, data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and embedded systems[1][2]. Founded in 1969 by Jerry Sanders and colleagues, AMD started as a Silicon Valley startup focused on memory chips and gradually entered the microprocessor market in 1975, becoming a primary competitor to Intel[1]. The company's early success included the Athlon and Opteron processors in the early 2000s, which solidified its presence in the PC and server markets. However, AMD faced challenges competing with Intel in the late 2000s and early 2010s but rebounded strongly with innovations in processor architecture and graphics technology[1]. A major milestone in AMD’s recent history was its acquisition of Xilinx in 2022, expanding its portfolio into FPGAs and enhancing its capabilities in adaptive computing[1]. In October 2025, AMD announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to supply six gigawatts of AI processors over five years, underscoring its critical role in powering AI infrastructure and advancing the AI ecosystem[1][3]. AMD is recognized for driving innovation in high-performance computing and adaptive technologies. It emphasizes corporate responsibility, inclusivity, and energy-efficient computing, fostering a culture of innovation and execution excellence[2]. Despite recent challenges in data center revenue growth compared to competitors like Nvidia, AMD continues to be a key player with a premium market valuation and strong potential in next-generation computing technologies[4][5]. Overall, AMD stands as a transformative force in technology, delivering cutting-edge products that shape gaming,

## Overview Micron Technology, Inc. is a global leader in the semiconductor industry, specializing in the design, manufacturing, and sale of advanced memory and storage solutions, including dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), flash memory, and solid-state drives (SSDs)[1][2]. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Micron’s products are essential components in a wide range of modern technologies, from data centers and smartphones to artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, and industrial IoT systems[1][4]. The company is the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, distinguishing it in a market dominated by Asian competitors[2]. ## History Micron was founded in 1978 as a small semiconductor design company in Boise, Idaho[3]. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it rapidly expanded its manufacturing capabilities and technological expertise. In the 2000s, Micron pioneered critical innovations such as atomic layer deposition for DRAM and pitch double-patterning for NAND flash, which have become industry standards[2]. The company has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, notably purchasing Lexar in 2006 (divested in 2017) and entering joint ventures with Intel to produce NAND flash memory[2]. ## Key Achievements Micron’s innovations have consistently pushed the boundaries of memory technology. The company’s development of high-k films and advanced patterning techniques enabled cost-effective scaling of semiconductor memory, benefiting the entire industry[2]. Micron’s consumer products, marketed under the Crucial and Ballistix brands, are widely recognized for quality and performance. The company has also made significant contributions to the automotive and industrial sectors, where reliable memory and storage are increasingly critical[1][4]. ## Current Status Today, Micron operates a global network of manufacturing and R&D facilities, with major sites in the United States, Taiwan, Singapore, China, and Malaysia, and a strong presence in sales