Global markets faced a significant downturn on Friday, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 indices experiencing their steepest declines since April. The tech sector was notably affected, as NVIDIA and Tesla shares fell by over 4% and 5%, respectively. Bitcoin also saw a decline, dropping below $110,000. Contributing factors to the market volatility included the U.S. government shutdown, delayed economic data, and geopolitical tensions, highlighted by a first-phase ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In contrast, precious metals continued their upward trajectory. Gold surged to $4,010.43 per ounce, while silver reached a record high of $51.22 per ounce, reflecting investor interest in safe-haven assets amid the uncertainty.