Markets across the Americas opened Thursday on a mixed note, with Wall Street benchmarks slipping deeper into negative territory while Canadian and Brazilian equities managed modest gains. A surge in volatility signaled growing investor unease as tech stocks weighed heavily on sentiment.

U.S. Benchmarks Under Pressure

U.S. equities opened broadly lower, led by a sharp decline in growth and technology names:

• The Nasdaq dropped -1.15% to 21,455.55, marking the steepest decline among major indices.
• The S&P 500 slid -0.64% to 6,460.26, with weakness spreading across sectors.
• The Dow 30 slipped -0.20% to 45,544.90, cushioned slightly by strength in defensive shares.
• The Russell 2000, tracking smaller companies, fell -0.50% to 2,366.42, underscoring broad-based pressure in U.S. equities.

The selloff highlights a cautious turn in investor positioning as profit-taking in technology combines with concerns over economic growth and earnings resilience.

Canada and Brazil Defy U.S. Trend

Not all markets followed Wall Street’s weakness. The S\&P/TSX Composite Index in Canada gained +0.46% to 28,564.45, supported by energy and materials sectors. Meanwhile, Brazil’s IBOVESPA edged up +0.13% to 141,607.36, extending its recent strength amid steady domestic flows.

Volatility Spikes, Dollar Edges Lower

The VIX, Wall Street’s volatility gauge, jumped +6.25% to 16.32, signaling a rise in risk aversion as investors brace for potential market turbulence.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index slipped -0.08% to 97.69, reflecting softer demand for the greenback and offering some relief to commodities and emerging market currencies.

Key Takeaways from Today’s Open

• U.S. indices dropped, with the Nasdaq leading losses at more than 1%.
• Canadian and Brazilian equities bucked the trend with modest gains.
• Volatility surged, pointing to growing caution among investors.
• The dollar weakened slightly, easing pressure on global risk assets.

Investor Outlook

The market’s early performance reflects heightened uncertainty as investors balance optimism in select regional markets against rising caution in U.S. equities. The jump in volatility suggests choppier trading ahead, with economic data releases and corporate earnings likely to dictate near-term momentum.