Wall Street Gains Amid Strong Job Data, Trade Optimism

Wall Street ended the week with strong gains as robust jobs data and signs of easing US-China trade tensions boosted investor confidence, helping the S&P 500 achieve its longest daily winning streak in over 20 years and the Dow its longest since 2023. The positive momentum was further fueled by strong earnings from tech giants like Microsoft and Meta Platforms, which revived optimism around artificial intelligence and contributed to a rally in chip stocks such as Nvidia. Despite lingering concerns over tariffs—highlighted by warnings from Apple’s CEO and missed forecasts from some companies—investors largely brushed off a recent GDP contraction and low consumer confidence, focusing instead on upbeat hiring numbers and the potential for improved trade relations. While some companies like Super Micro Computer, McDonald's, and First Solar cited tariffs and economic headwinds for disappointing results, the broader market remained resilient, erasing losses from the prior month. Overall, the combination of encouraging economic indicators and corporate performance led to a second consecutive week of gains across all major indexes, with equities regaining ground lost during earlier volatility.