Latest Market Movements TodayMajor Indexes Extend Winning Streak as Markets Close Higher on Friday
The stock market continued its upward momentum on Friday, April 25, 2025, marking the fourth consecutive day of gains as investors responded positively to strong tech earnings and signs of easing trade tensions. The S&P 500 climbed approximately 0.5% today, building on Thursday’s 1.47% gain, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced about 0.6%, extending its previous 2.02% increase.
This week’s rally has significantly improved the major indexes’ performance, with the S&P 500 now showing a week-to-date gain of nearly 4.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite are up more than 2% and 5.5% for the week, respectively.
Tech Giants Lead Market Higher Following Strong Earnings Reports
Alphabet (GOOGL) shares jumped approximately 5% after the Google parent company reported impressive first-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations. The tech giant earned $2.81 per share on $90.23 billion in revenue, significantly outperforming analyst projections of $2.01 per share and $89.12 billion in revenue.
However, Intel (INTC) shares fell nearly 6% after providing disappointing guidance for the current quarter and announcing plans to cut operational and capital expenses. The company projected revenue of approximately $11.8 billion for the period, below the analyst consensus of $12.82 billion.
AutoNation and Other Companies Report Mixed Earnings Results
AutoNation (AN), one of America’s largest automotive retailers, reported first-quarter 2025 revenue of $6.7 billion, a 4% increase on a same-store basis compared to the previous year. The company’s earnings per share came in at $4.45, slightly down from $4.49 a year ago, while adjusted EPS rose by 4% to $4.68.
“Our results for the first quarter were strong across the board. We achieved significant new vehicle volume growth, we gained share in the markets in which we compete, we delivered on our focus to improve unit profitability in used vehicles, Customer Financial Services continued to perform, and we delivered record After-Sales profits,” said Mike Manley, AutoNation Chief Executive Officer.
Other notable earnings reports today include Colgate-Palmolive and AbbVie, which released their quarterly results before the opening bell.
Trade Tensions Showing Signs of Easing
Market sentiment has improved significantly following indications that the U.S. may be softening its stance on tariffs with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently commented that the current levies between the world’s two largest economies were “unsustainable,” suggesting a potential shift in trade policy.
President Donald Trump stated earlier this week that tariff rates on Chinese imports will “come down substantially. But it won’t be zero,” providing some clarity to investors who have been concerned about escalating trade tensions since the announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2.
Upcoming Market Events to Watch
Investors are closely monitoring several key events that could impact market performance in the coming days:
1. Consumer sentiment data for April, scheduled for release at 10:00 a.m. ET today, with economists expecting the reading to remain unchanged from the previous month at 50.8.
2. Major tech earnings next week, including Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) on Wednesday, followed by Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) on Thursday.
3. Ongoing developments in U.S.-China trade negotiations, as China recently stated there were no ongoing discussions on tariffs and called for the cancellation of “unilateral measures on China.”
Market Outlook Remains Cautiously Optimistic
Despite the recent rally, market experts remain cautious about potential volatility ahead. “I think we’re still in for a period of choppiness around stock trading, and I think heading into next week, it’s really going to be the big tech earnings that are going to really influence where the major averages go,” said Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise.
All three major indexes remain in negative territory year-to-date, with the S&P 500 down over 8% from its February record close. However, the recent market rebound reflects growing investor confidence that the most adverse outcomes of trade tensions might be avoided.
As the market closes out the week on a positive note, investors will be watching closely for further developments in trade negotiations and upcoming earnings reports from major companies to gauge the market’s direction in the weeks ahead.