why was stock market down today

The stock market was down on October 11, 2025, primarily due to escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. President Trump warned of massive new tariffs on Chinese goods following China's tighter export controls on rare earth minerals vital to technology and defense industries. This threatened to slow global trade, raise costs for companies, and hurt corporate profits, causing investor caution and a sell-off in stocks. Weak corporate earnings further contributed to the decline, especially in technology stocks, which were hit hard. Rising bond yields also made fixed-income investments more attractive compared to stocks, adding downward pressure. Overall, concerns about trade policies, potential tariffs, economic growth, and geopolitical risks created a perfect storm for a market drop that affected major indices including the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq.