Wall Street Sets New Records: Indices Surge to All-Time Highs
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq soared to unprecedented levels, powered by strong performances from Nvidia and GE Vernova. Investor optimism grew amid signs that the United States and the European Union are on the verge of finalizing a trade deal reminiscent of the US-Japan agreement reached during Donald Trump's presidency.
Tariffs Take Center Stage
According to diplomatic sources, the White House is weighing the introduction of a uniform fifteen percent tariff on goods imported from the European Union. This new duty, which may be extended to automobiles, would largely mirror the arrangement the US previously established with Japan.
Solid Gains in 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, the S&P 500 has climbed roughly eight percent, while the Nasdaq has seen an impressive increase approaching nine percent.
GE Vernova Breaks New Ground
Shares of energy equipment producer GE Vernova leapt by fourteen and a half percent, hitting a fresh all-time high. The company's upward revision of its revenue and free cash flow forecasts, coupled with better-than-expected second-quarter earnings, impressed Wall Street. GE Vernova's stock has surged by over eighty percent this year, propelled by heightened demand from data centers serving AI and cryptocurrency applications, which require ever more electricity.
Nvidia Pushes Indices Higher
Nvidia, a global leader in AI chip production, advanced by 2.25 percent, providing considerable momentum to both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq.
Focus on Tesla
Meanwhile, investors are keenly watching for Tesla's quarterly report, due after markets close. The automaker's shares edged up slightly ahead of the announcement. Analysts, however, expect a sharp drop in revenue, citing intensifying competition, a lack of new car models and mixed consumer sentiment toward CEO Elon Musk.
Alphabet in the Spotlight: Market Awaits Earnings After the Bell
Alphabet shares, the parent company of Google, slipped by nearly six tenths of a percent during Wednesday's session. Investors are keeping a close eye, as the tech giant's quarterly performance figures are set for release after trading hours.
S&P 500 and Nasdaq in the Green, Dow Jones Nears Historic Peak
The S&P 500 gained seventy-eight basis points to end the day at 6358.91. The Nasdaq closed up just over six tenths of a percent at 21,020.02. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by just over one percent, finishing at 45,010.29 — just shy of its all-time closing high from December fourth.
Thermo Fisher Surprises Wall Street
Thermo Fisher Scientific emerged as a standout in the medical technology sector. After the company published quarterly results that surpassed Wall Street's forecasts for both revenue and profits, its stock soared by more than nine percent.
Texas Instruments Weighs on the Chip Sector
Texas Instruments stock took a substantial hit, dropping thirteen percent. The company's cautious outlook cited weaker than expected demand for analog chips, as well as uncertainties related to tariffs. This pessimism spread across the semiconductor industry, pushing shares of NXP Semiconductors, Analog Devices, and ON Semiconductor down between one and nearly five percent.
Asian Markets Embrace Wall Street Optimism
Buoyed by positive corporate earnings and progress on trading agreements in the US, Asian equities extended their rally on Thursday. Meanwhile, the euro remained steady as investors looked ahead to a key policy meeting at the European Central Bank.
Asia-Pacific Markets Hit Four-Year Peak
The MSCI Asia-Pacific stock index, excluding Japan, climbed by zero point four percent on Thursday, reaching its highest level since 2020. This upward momentum was fueled by Wall Street's record-breaking close in the previous session.
European Markets Poised for Gains
Optimism spread to Europe as well, with pan-European futures advancing over one percent. The German DAX gained one point one five percent, signaling robust investor sentiment, while London's FTSE futures also trended upward.
Regional Indices Break Through Highs
Tokyo's Topix and Singapore's STI surpassed their historical records, while the Nikkei 225 continued to inch closer to its own all-time high from last year, reflecting steady confidence in Asian equities.
US-EU Trade Talks in the Spotlight
With the US recently securing agreements with Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, traders now expect progress in negotiations between Washington and Brussels. According to diplomatic sources, both sides are on the cusp of a deal introducing a uniform fifteen percent tariff on imports from the European Union, despite previous threats of a thirty percent duty from the former administration.
Currency Markets Shift: Dollar Falls, Euro Advances
The dollar slipped below 146 yen, still remaining well above its yearly low from April. The euro strengthened, crossing one dollar and seventeen cents, and reached its highest mark in over two weeks.
Asian Tech Giants Instill Confidence
Major regional tech firms, South Korea's SK Hynix and India's Infosys, published upbeat outlooks in their latest earnings reports, ignoring ongoing US trade uncertainty and bolstering investor optimism.
Oil Prices Rise, Gold Retreats
Oil prices advanced, driven by hopes of a boost in global growth from an expected trade deal and after US crude inventories fell more than anticipated. American crude was last seen near sixty six dollars per barrel. Meanwhile, gold edged down as easing trade tensions reduced demand for safe havens, with spot prices hovering just below thirty three hundred eighty three dollars per ounce.
