Key Points
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Stocks came out of the gate swinging, with all three of the major stock market indices trading in the green.
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Magnificent 7 stocks led the gains.
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Weaker consumer confidence data for March threatened to derail the rally.
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Best Day of 2025
The markets just closed out the best day of 2025 so far, including over $1 trillion in market capitalization added to the S&P 500. All three of the major indices finished the day in the green. All sectors closed in the green, led by technology and energy stocks. With the S&P 500 no longer in correction territory, here’s a look at how the markets closed:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 674.62 (+1.66%)
Nasdaq Composite: Up 451.08 (+2.6%)
S&P 500: Up 117.42 (+2.13%)
Each of the Magnificent Seven stocks finished the day in the green, led by Nvidia’s (Nasdaq: NVDA) 5% advance. Buy now pay later company Klarna has filed for an IPO. It’s unclear if the markets have hit bottom yet, but for now investors will take the win headed into the weekend.
Nasdaq Composite Leads Markets Higher
The markets are holding onto gains in mid-afternoon trading, with all three of the major stock market indexes in the green. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is rallying 500 points, but the Nasdaq Composite is the biggest percentage gainer with a 2% advance. The S&P 500 isn’t too far behind, rising 1.7%.
All sectors of the economy are now positive on the day, led by energy, technology and financial stocks, which are up 2.6%, 2.2% and 1.9%, respectively. Waning consumer sentiment wasn’t enough to wipe out today’s rally, but for perspective the Dow is still on pace for its poorest weekly performance in two years.
Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) is buoying the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 higher with a 4% gain. Microsoft and Meta Platforms are also contributing with 2% and 2.5% gains, respectively.
Ulta Beauty (NYSE: ULTA) is now up 13.5% on the day in its extended post-earnings rally.
Crown Castle (NYSE: CCI) is rising 10% on the heels of its fiber-division sale, the proceeds from which will help the company to pay down debt. KeyBanc Capital Markets analysts cheered the sale, saying it makes the company’s balance sheet more stable.
Consumer Sentiment Dips
After a bright start to the last trading day of the week, inflation threatened to spoil the party. March consumer sentiment fell to a weaker than expected reading of 57.9, causing traders to worry that early gains would be short lived. The market indices are holding onto gains but are off their highs of the morning. Here’s a glimpse at their performance after the data:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 241.12 (+0.59%)
Nasdaq Composite: Up 223.94 (+1.29%)
S&P 500: Up 56.91 (+1.06)
We’ll check back later to see if the markets were able to end the week on a high note or caved to the selling pressure.
With no sound of tariff talk on the agenda today, the markets took the opportunity to do what they’ve done best over the past couple of years – rise. After erasing $5 trillion in value over the past few weeks, the markets are having a relief rally. Led by the Nasdaq Composite’s 1.8% gain, all three of the major stock market indexes are in the green out of the gate. Each of the Magnificent Seven stocks is retaking lost ground, led by names like Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA) and Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA), while AI-related stock Palantir (Nasdaq: PLTR) is also joining in.
Palantir has inked an AI partnership with Archer that could be helping to lift sentiment in the volatile stock. PLTR stock was among those that got sent reeling in the recent sell-off and remains 32% off of its February high.
Tesla has teamed up with China’s Baidu to strengthen its advanced driving system technology in the country.
In a turn of events, nearly all of the sectors of the economy are trading in the green today, led by technology with a 1.7% advance as a group. The only sector left out is consumer staples including personal products despite a 7.5% rally in Ulta Beauty (Nasdaq; ULTA) on the heels of a strong earnings report.
Here’s a look at the performance as of morning trading:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 378 (+0.93%)
Nasdaq Composite: Up 345.50 (+1.79%)
S&P 500: Up 75.75 (+1.37)
Market Movers
Wall Street analysts are making some calls to round out the week. They include:
Raymond James has started coverage on Astera Labs (Nasdaq: ALAB), attaching an “outperform” rating on the stock and sending shares soaring by 7%.
Truist analysts have begun coverage on Waystar (NYSE: WAY) stock, attaching a “buy” rating and $45 price target.
Loop analysts have upgraded shares of QSR Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) from “hold” to “buy,” owing to its “manageable tariff risk,” sending shares higher by 1.4%.
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