Today At A Glance

U.S. stocks closed higher as investors cheered new trade deals and extended tariff deadlines, despite ongoing tariff rhetoric. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 6,263.26, led by strength in technology and communication sectors. The Nasdaq Composite surged 0.9% to a record 20,611.34, boosted by AI-fueled gains. Nvidia briefly hit a historic $4 trillion market cap, underscoring investor enthusiasm for AI, before trimming gains by the close. Copper prices eased following President Trump’s decision to delay new tariffs, and Merck shares advanced after agreeing to acquire Verona Pharma.

Today’s Index Performance

• Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI): Opened at ~44,240, closed at 44,458.30, up 0.5%.
• Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC): Opened around 20,418, closed at 20,611.34, up 0.9%, reaching a new all-time high.
• S&P 500 (^GSPC): Opened near 6,225, closed at 6,263.26, up 0.6%.

Gainers Of Note

• Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): AI chip leader; gained ~2.5% as it briefly reached a $4 trillion valuation, propelled by surging AI demand.
• Merck (NYSE: MRK): Pharmaceutical giant; advanced after announcing a planned acquisition of U.K.-based Verona Pharma, strengthening its respiratory drug pipeline.
• Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT): Tech heavyweight; rose on the back of an analyst upgrade and momentum across megacap names.

Losers Of Note

• Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX): Major copper producer; slid after copper prices retreated in response to tariff delays.
• SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ: SEDG): Solar hardware maker; declined modestly amid uncertainty around solar incentives in upcoming trade negotiations.
• Enphase Energy (NASDAQ: ENPH): Solar tech company; followed sector lower on reduced enthusiasm for green energy credits under current tariff policy.

Active Traders Of Note

• Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA): High volume as traders responded to the $4T milestone and ongoing AI hype cycle.
• Merck (NYSE: MRK): Saw elevated volume tied to its acquisition announcement, with speculation about further M&A in pharma.
• JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM): Increased activity as traders positioned ahead of next week’s bank earnings and potential tariff-driven trading profits.

Looking Forward:

Markets appear to be recalibrating around easing trade tensions and persistent optimism in AI. All eyes now turn to Q2 earnings season, which begins with major banks next week. Investors will watch for signs that corporate profits can justify recent gains and sustain market momentum through the summer.

Note: The stock performance summaries are based on general trends observed over the past ten trading days and are not indicative of future results.

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