US stocks trimmed early-session gains and remained volatile Wednesday afternoon, with the S&P 500 up around 0.3%, the Nasdaq gaining 0.6%, and the Dow Jones advancing about 50 points, as investors weighed strong corporate earnings against renewed geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Geopolitical tensions resurfaced as President Trump threatened to sever trade ties with China, including a potential 100% tariff on Chinese imports, in response to Beijing's export restrictions on rare earth elements. This escalation raised concerns about a full-blown trade war, leading to increased investor anxiety and a rise in the Cboe Volatility Index to around 23, its highest since May. Bank of America and Morgan Stanley added around 4% and 5%, respectively, as they reported better-than-expected third-quarter profits. Nvidia lost momentum despite an HSBC upgrade, trading around 0.5% lower, while Abbott Laboratories tumbled more than 5% after missing revenue expectations.