U.S. stocks pushed higher on Friday, wrapping up a strong week driven by surging tech shares and easing investor anxiety around trade and interest rates. The S&P 500 (GSPC) climbed 0.74% to notch its fourth straight daily gain—its longest win streak since January. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) led the way with a 1.26% jump, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) ended nearly flat with a 0.05% uptick.
Despite President Trump's tough stance, investor optimism was fueled by Big Tech earnings, a promising start to self-driving regulation changes, and speculation that tariff negotiations could shift. Markets also gained steam on hopes of a potential Federal Reserve rate cut this summer.
Market Movers
- Tesla (TSLA) +9.8%: The AI chipmaker climbed nearly 4% to close out a weekly gain of over 9%. Investors b on Nvidia’s leadership in artificial intelligence, especially as it becomes increasingly critical to both tech infrastructure and national competitiveness.g the way for future product launches.
- Nvidia (NVDA) +3.9%: The AI chipmaker climbed nearly 4% to close out a weekly gain of over 9%. Investors are betting on Nvidia’s leadership in artificial intelligence, especially as it becomes increasingly critical to both tech infrastructure and national competitiveness.
- Alphabet (GOOGL): Google’s parent company rose after beating quarterly earnings expectations, announcing a dividend increase, and unveiling a massive $70 billion stock buyback. The strong report helped soothe concerns about ad revenue growth in a high-rate environment.
- Intel (INTC): Despite beating earnings, Intel shares fell as management flagged concerns about ongoing tariffs. Investors appear uneasy about the company’s exposure to global trade dynamics just as rivals gain momentum.
- Skechers (SKX) & T-Mobile (TMUS): Both stocks dropped after warning of early effects from tariffs. Skechers mentioned rising costs from overseas production, while T-Mobile hinted at potential disruptions in its supply chain.
Tech Takes the Lead
The “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks once again carried the broader market, with Tesla, Nvidia, and Alphabet at the forefront. Sector ETFs like XLK (Tech) and XLY (Consumer Discretionary) led Friday’s charge and capped off a strong week. Netflix also contributed to Nasdaq’s outperformance, rising 13% over five sessions and touching all-time highs. With tech earnings season just heating up, traders seem willing to keep betting on the sector despite looming trade uncertainties.
Tariffs Still a Wild Card
President Trump reiterated Friday that he would not ease tariffs on China without meaningful concessions, warning another pause in duties was unlikely. While this stance caused a brief pullback in afternoon trading, investors were buoyed by reports that China may temporarily lift its 125% tariff on some U.S. goods. Though markets are hoping for a resolution, the disconnect between U.S. and Chinese statements suggests volatility could return if talks sour. For now, Wall Street appears more focused on earnings and monetary policy than geopolitical risk.
Looking Ahead
Next week promises another wave of potential market-moving news, with Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta (META) reporting on Wednesday, followed by Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) on Thursday. Investors will be looking not just at the numbers, but at any commentary around tariffs, AI spending, and the health of the consumer.
With the S&P 500 riding its longest winning streak since January and tech stocks back in rally mode, the next few days will test whether this optimism can hold—or if policy uncertainty and earnings pressure will shake the momentum.
