U.S. equities experienced a significant rally on Tuesday morning, fueled primarily by a confirmed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, announced jointly by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This development dramatically improved investor sentiment, leading to substantial gains across major market indices. The Nasdaq 100 surged 1.6% to close at 22,200 by 12:45 p.m. ET, bringing it within striking distance of its February all-time high of 22,222. This tech-heavy index also witnessed a ‘golden cross,’ a bullish technical pattern where the 50-day moving average surpassed the 200-day moving average. This pattern is widely interpreted as a signal of sustained upward momentum and increased investor confidence. Beyond the geopolitical relief, all major indexes posted gains exceeding 1%. The S&P 500 climbed to 6,100, approaching its record high of 6,147, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced to 43,120. The market’s positive reaction reflects a shift in risk appetite, with investors seemingly prioritizing stability and growth potential over previous concerns. Sector performance was broadly positive, with technology and communication services leading the rally, demonstrating the market’s renewed faith in the tech sector’s resilience. Energy and consumer staples were the only sectors experiencing negative movement, highlighting a sector rotation away from traditionally defensive stocks. Notably, the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) rose 1.8% to a record $247.26, showcasing the market’s conviction in the tech sector’s future. Within the ‘Magnificent Seven,’ Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) surged 2.5%, significantly outperforming its peers, reflecting strong investor demand for its growth prospects. Furthermore, semiconductor stocks rebounded sharply, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rallying 3.7%, recovering to levels last observed before the January sell-off triggered by DeepSeek-related concerns, indicating a return of confidence in this critical sector. Gold prices experienced a decline, falling 1.5% to $3,320 per ounce, as investor demand for safe-haven assets waned, reflecting reduced geopolitical risk and a shift towards growth-oriented investments. Bitcoin (BTC/USD) also edged up 0.5% to $106,000, following a 4.3% rally on Monday, demonstrating continued interest in digital assets.
Tuesday’s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs Major Indices Price 1-day %chg Nasdaq 100 22,199.49 1.6% Russell 2000 2,160.13 1.3% Dow Jones 43,117.36 1.3% S&P 500 6,095.41 1.2%
According to Benzinga Pro data: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) rose 1.2% to $559.39. The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) rose 1.2% to $430.75. The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (QQQ) rallied 1.5% to $539.43. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) edged up by 1.2% to $214.36. The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund outperformed, up 1.9%; the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund XLE lagged, down 1.1%.
Tuesday’s Stock Movers Carnival plc (CCL) rallied 7% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Other cruise and travel stocks rose, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) up 4.5%, Royal Caribbean Cruised Ltd. (RCL) , up 2.2% and Booking Holdings Inc. (BKNG) up 2.8%. Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER) rallied over 8% after launching its autonomous ride-hailing service in Atlanta in partnership with Waymo, covering a 65-square-mile area. Coinbase Global Inc. (COIN) soared over 10% after the Senate passed the stablecoin bill. Shares of defense contractors tumbled following the ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT), Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) and RTX Corp. (RTX) each fell by about 3%.
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