Stock Market Today: Stocks Flat After Defense Contractors Report

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Happy Tuesday. This is TheStreet's Stock Market Today for Oct. 21, 2025. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog.

Update: 10:57 a.m. ET

Precious Metals Pull Back After Banner Rally

Silver and Gold had a fantastic Monday, but the buck -- or rather, the metal -- is stopping here.

This morning, the Gold Continuous Contract (-5.35%), Palladium Continuous Contract (-7.6%), Silver Continuous Contract (-7.8%), and Platinum Continuous Contract (-8.26%) are all plummeting at NYMex.

The situation in the spot market is even worse: Spot Silver (-8.7%) is facing its largest decline since 2021, while Spot Gold (-6.3%) has itself the worst one-day drop since Apr. 2013. Both are pretty historic declines.

The falls come after a year-long rally in the metals market, which have seen them outperform many global as investors embrace safe havens.

Update: 9:30 a.m. ET

Opening Bell

The U.S. markets are now open, with stocks trading mostly flat. The Dow (+0.09%) and S&P 500 (+0.04%) are up just a few bips, while the Nasdaq (-0.05%) is declining. In small cap land, the Russell 2000 (-0.51%) is pulling back from a nearly 2% run yesterday; Gold is also erasing its fantastical gains from yesterday.

General Motors Soars

General Motors (+11%) is soaring this morning after raising its full-year profit guidance, even as it still faces a steep tariff bill.

The company said during its Tuesday earnings that its full-year EBIT, adjusted automotive free cash flow, and adjusted earnings per share will come in higher than it forecasted at its last update.

Some of the savings are coming from less-steep tariff exposures, which are now seen costing the firm between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion. That's down from $4 billion to $5 billion previously.

Making matters better, GM's third quarter vehicle sales rose 8% year-over-year to 710,347; that made it the best-selling brand in America and gave it the best market share relative to the rest of the industry in eight years.

Update: 8:24 a.m. ET

A.M. Reactions: GM, RTX, Newmont, Northrop

As aforementioned, a number of reports have already happened this morning and elicited reactions from investors. Among them are General Motors (+10.09%) and RTX Corp (+4.8%), as well as PulteGroup (-2.53%) and Northrop Grumman (-2.16%).

Here's the cropping of some of the largest morning reports sourced from TipRanks, which seem to be coming in mostly in line on revenue, but so-so on EPS earnings:

Story Continues

There's also other companies making moves this morning which haven't reported, including EPAM Systems (+3.26%) and Newmont Goldcorp (-4.57%). Per data from Investing.com, here are companies which are making big swings ahead of the opening bell today:

Update: 7:42 a.m. ET

Everything Happening (That We Know Of)

Good morning. After a strong start to the week, stocks are flat in futures trading, as a flurry of reports from defense contractors are set to define the morning trade. They won't be alone.

Here's what is on deck for today:

Earnings Today: Netflix, Coca Cola, GE Aerospace

Rolling into midweek, data from Nasdaq says there will be 62 earnings reports today, with GE Aerospace, Coca-Cola, and Philip Morris International heading up the morning reports.

Defense contractors RTX Corporation, LockheedMartin, and Northrop Grumman are also on deck this morning, with their reports likely to offer investors perspective on the ongoing government shutdown.

This evening, we'll also get today's biggest report in Netflix, plus some other results from Texas Instruments and Capital One Financial, among others.

Here are today's reports:

Economic Events & Data

This morning, Redbook for Oct. 18 should be out just before 9:00 a.m. ET, at which point the Fed's Christopher Waller is expected to give remarks. Later today, at 3:30 p.m. ET, we'll also hear from him again.

Aside from the NY Fed's 1-2.5 yrs Treasury Purchase report and a refreshed on API Crude Oil Stocks throughout today, those are the largest and most significant economic data reports out today.

Meanwhile, the government enters its 21st day of shutdown. Still, seemingly with no end in sight.

This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Oct 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the Markets section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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