Stock indices set new records; Fed meeting kicks off; Amazon announces mass layoffs of workers

The rapid rise of artificial intelligence is leaving young workers struggling to adapt in today’s workplace

7 minutes ago

As artificial intelligence reshapes the modern workplace, many young workers say they are struggling to keep up with progress and are therefore having difficulty finding jobs.

Recently, the labor market has been slow to add workers, especially recent college graduates. As of June 2025, 4.8% of recent college graduates were unemployed, compared to about 4% of all workers, according to the latest report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Many economists say tariffs are partly to blame, but an important factor, which has been brewing for several years, is the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the workforce. These tools have increasingly influenced early-career administrative employees, such as software developers and accountants.

As technology and artificial intelligence advance in offices, seven in 10 employees feel unprepared for today’s workforce, according to a recent study by Instructure, maker of Canvas, an online learning management system. As for younger workers, the situation is even worse, with 87% of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, reporting that they feel unprepared.

Read the full article here.

–Elizabeth Guevara

The price of gold continues to decline. Investors should monitor these critical levels

35 minutes ago

Gold’s (XAUUSD) decline accelerated from its recent record high on Tuesday, with profit-taking weighing on the precious metal after strong gains in recent months.

The spot price of gold fell below $3,900 an ounce this morning, as signs of a possible breakthrough in US-China trade talks ahead of a meeting later this week between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping dampened demand for safe-haven assets. Gold’s recent decline has coincided with a stock market rally that continues to lift major indexes to record levels.

The price of gold, recently at around $3,910, is down 11% from the record high it hit early last week, though it remains about 50% higher year-to-date, fueled by economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and purchases by central banks around the world.

After reaching an all-time high on October 20, gold has seen a pullback, a move that coincides with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) recently falling below its neutral limit, indicating waning upward momentum and increasing the likelihood of a deeper pullback in the short term.

In early trading on Tuesday, the precious metal fell below the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level when applying a grid from the August low to the October high.

Read the full technical analysis article here.

–Timothy Smith

UPS shares rise on strong third-quarter results

1 hour and 30 minutes ago

United Parcel Service’s turnaround plan appears to be working.

Shares of UPS (UPS) rose more than 12% before the bell after the shipping giant reported better-than-expected third-quarter results.

The Atlanta-based company reported adjusted earnings of $1.74 per share on revenue that fell 3.7% year over year to $21.42 billion. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha were expecting adjusted EPS to fall to $1.31 and revenue to fall to $20.89 billion.

“We have launched our Reimagine Efficiency initiatives to undertake comprehensive process redesign efforts that will align our organizational processes with the reshaping of the network,” UPS said. “We have reduced our operational workforce by approximately 34,000 positions and closed day-to-day operations at 93 leased and owned buildings during the first nine months of 2025 as part of this initiative.”

UPS, which last quarter did not provide a revenue or earnings outlook “given current macroeconomic uncertainty,” guided for $24 billion in fourth-quarter revenue, a mark above the Visible Alpha consensus.

UPS shares entered Tuesday down about 30% this year.

UnitedHealth Group shares rose as earnings increased, raising expectations

2 hours and 23 minutes ago

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock was up nearly 4% in premarket trading after the health care giant reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and raised its full-year earnings forecast.

The company reported adjusted earnings of $2.92 per share, while analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha expected $2.74 per share. Revenues of $113.16 billion were essentially in line with expectations.

“We remain focused on enhancing performance and positioning ourselves for sustained, accelerated growth in 2026 and beyond, and our results this quarter reflect strong execution to achieve this goal,” said CEO Stephen Hemsley.

UnitedHealth Group raised its 2025 forecast for earnings per share to at least $14.90 per share and adjusted EPS to at least $16.25 per share, up from at least $14.65 per share and at least $16.00 per share, respectively.

Shares of UnitedHealth Group entered Tuesday down about 28% this year.

Stock futures were little changed after indexes hit new records

3 hours and 12 minutes ago

Futures linked to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%.

S&P 500 futures were slightly lower.

Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.1%.