LIVE MARKETS-Stocks up for third day on solid AI earnings, trade hopes
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STOCKS UP FOR THIRD DAY ON SOLID AI EARNINGS, TRADE HOPES
Risk sentiment stayed strong on Thursday and stocks ended higher for the third consecutive day as tech stocks were boosted by solid artificial intelligence earnings while investors also remained optimistic that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is closer to making trade deals with partner countries.
The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC rose 2.7% and was the strongest performing major index after AI-powered software firm ServiceNow's NOW.N better-than-expected quarterly results.
There were no major trade developments, though U.S. Treasury Scott Bessent told reporters that trade talks with South Korea may be moving faster than the Trump administration expected.
Trump also asserted on Thursday that trade talks between the U.S. and China are underway, pushing back against Chinese claims that no discussions have taken place to ease the ongoing trade war.
Investors are anxious to see some completed trade agreements that will show that the tariffs won’t be broadly as high as feared.
Businesses across multiple industries are hiking prices, backing away from previous financial guidance and warning of growing uncertainty as the trade war pushes up costs, upends supply chains and stirs concerns about the global economy.
Federal Reserve officials speaking in television interviews on Thursday, meanwhile, indicated they see no urgency for a change in monetary policy as they seek more information to determine how tariffs are affecting the economy.
The S&P 500 .SPX and Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI both also ended up with a 2% and 1.2% gain, respectively. Tech .SPLRCT led S&P 500 sectors, rising 3.5%, and consumer staples .SPLRCS was the only sector to post a down day.
Here is Thursday’s closing market snapshot:
(Karen Brettell)
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THURSDAY'S OTHER LIVE MARKETS POSTS:
CONSUMERS STILL SPENDING IN APRIL - BOFA INSTITUTE - CLICK HERE
GOLD – OVERBOUGHT BUT UNDER-OWNED – LOOKS PRIMED TO KEEP RALLYING - CLICK HERE
THE "WAIT-AND-SEE" ECONOMY: DURABLE GOODS, HOME SALES, JOBLESS CLAIMS - CLICK HERE
STOCKS HIGHER IN EARLY TRADE AS TECH LEADS - CLICK HERE
HEDGE FUNDS BEHIND EQUITY SELLING, NOT FOREIGN INVESTORS – JPMORGAN - CLICK HERE
SPANISH AND GERMAN STOCKS AMONG EUROPE'S WINNER SO FAR IN 2025 - CLICK HERE
STRONG USD BUYING INTO MONTH END? - CLICK HERE
PRE-CONDITIONS IN PLACE FOR MAJOR DOLLAR DOWNTREND - DB - CLICK HERE
STOXX GIVES BACK SOME GAINS, LUXURY WEAK - CLICK HERE
EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES MOSTLY LOWER ON HEAVY EARNINGS DAY - CLICK HERE
DOUR SENTIMENT READINGS THREATEN RELIEF RALLY - CLICK HERE
Monitor
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