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S&P 500 (NYSEARCA: SPY) Live: DLTR (Nasdaq: DLTR), FIS (NYSE: FIS) Rise Despite Hawkish Tone

Gerelyn Terzo

Published: April 17, 2025 10:55 am

Last Updated: April 17, 2025 1:38 pm

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S&P Holds Grip

1:39 pm by Gerelyn Terzo

The broader market is moving slightly higher, with the S&P 500 holding onto modest gains while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite move lower. UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH) is a major drag on the Dow and S&P 500 today, losing over 20% on the day.

The S&P 500 is being helped by Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), which is up 16% today.

Discount retailer Dollar Tree and fintech stock (NYSE: FIS) are holding onto their gains as well, rising 7% and 9%, respectively.

The markets are headed for a holiday-shortened week for which the S&P 500 is currently in the losing column.

Markets Spooked

11:07 am by Gerelyn Terzo

The stock market has erased earlier gains, with the S&P 500 now being pressured lower alongside the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite. In this holiday-shortened week, the markets are on track for their third straight day of losses. The S&P 500 is being pressured lower by UNH and GPN stock on earnings and M&A news, respectively. Energy as a sector is up 2.2% today, fueled by gains in FANG stock. Yesterday’s hawkish comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell are spooking markets further in an already uncertain climate.

The markets are struggling to maintain any sort of upward momentum, as the S&P 500 watches its modest gains slip away today. Stocks are being driven by tariff uncertainty between the U.S. and China, hawkish comments out of the Fed and the latest earnings results. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has set a negative tone due to UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) disappointing earnings results, pressuring the healthcare sector lower too. UNH stock is also part of the S&P 500. Tech as a sector is under pressure today, while energy stocks continue to show off with gains.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments are still ringing in the ears of traders and investors, leading to greater market uncertainty. Powell warned that the tariffs could thwart the central bank’s efforts to rein in inflation and spark economic growth, placing a question mark on monetary policy surrounding interest rates.

Discount retailer Dollar Tree (Nasdaq: DLTR) is bucking the downward trend today, rising 5% as a beneficiary of an economic slowdown. Investors have been flocking to discount retailers for protection in a potential economic recession that could result from the tariff climate. DLTR stock has gained approximately 25% from its March low of about $61 per share.

Here’s a look at the performance as of morning trading:

Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down 718.47 (-1.8%)
Nasdaq Composite: Down 115.71 (-0.71%)
S&P 500: Down 15.21 (-0.30%)

Market Movers

Fintech giant FIS (NYSE: FIS) is rising 6% on the day after announcing two multi-billion dollar deals in one fell swoop involving WorldPay and Global Payments’ (NYSE: GPN) Issuer Solutions division. GPN stock is falling by 17% today.

Diamondback Energy (Nasdaq: FANG) is extending its gains today as the energy rally continues to unfold in full force. The company is repurchasing stock in the face of market volatility in a bid to return value to shareholders.