Market Update
Tech-Dominated Benchmark Indexes Hovered at New Record Highs
Barry Adams
07 May, 2026
New York City
Stocks in New York headed higher and extended this week's gains amid improving market sentiment for the sixth week in a row.
The S&P 500 Index edged up 0.1%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.2% as investors overlooked lingering tensions in the Middle East.
The two widely followed benchmark indexes closed at new record highs after AMD offered a strong revenue and earnings outlook for the current quarter.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 index gained 1.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced more than 2% as investors reacted to positive news from AMD, Nvidia, and Corning Inc.
Nvidia and Corning announced a multi-year partnership, and the deal accelerates the innovation in the semiconductor shift from copper-based circuits to optical computing.
The landmark deal was viewed by investors as a positive development in accelerating the shift to smart computing and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.
Corning Inc. soared 22% in the previous session and extended this year's gains to over 105% as investors deemed the company one of the prime beneficiaries of investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Despite the benchmark indexes creating new record highs, investors are cautious amid resurgent inflation and uncertain geopolitical conditions in the Middle East.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices decreased 2.4% to $92.77 a barrel, and traders held out for a temporary peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, paving the way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Movers
DoorDash rose 8% to $182.50 after the food delivery platform operator signaled a positive revenue outlook for the current quarter.
Zillow Group declined 6% to $41.85 after the real estate platform operator's revenue in its latest quarter fell short of market expectations.
Arm Holdings PLC dropped 8% to $218.0, and the advanced chip designer said annual revenue growth in its mobile market may be flat or slightly negative.
McDonald's Corp. edged up 3% to $294.17 after the fast-food company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.83 on revenue of $6.5 billion.
Whirlpool Corp. plunged 20% to $43.0 after the home appliance maker slashed its full-year earnings per share estimate from $6.0 to between $3.0 and $3.50.
The refrigerator and washing machine maker said higher fuel prices are causing "recession-level industry decline."
The company also suspended its dividend, and added it plans to focus on paying down its debt.
Tech-Dominated Benchmark Indexes Hovered at New Record Highs
Barry Adams
07 May, 2026
New York City
Stocks in New York headed higher and extended this week's gains amid improving market sentiment for the sixth week in a row.
The S&P 500 Index edged up 0.1%, and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.2% as investors overlooked lingering tensions in the Middle East.
The two widely followed benchmark indexes closed at new record highs after AMD offered a strong revenue and earnings outlook for the current quarter.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 index gained 1.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced more than 2% as investors reacted to positive news from AMD, Nvidia, and Corning Inc.
Nvidia and Corning announced a multi-year partnership, and the deal accelerates the innovation in the semiconductor shift from copper-based circuits to optical computing.
The landmark deal was viewed by investors as a positive development in accelerating the shift to smart computing and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.
Corning Inc. soared 22% in the previous session and extended this year's gains to over 105% as investors deemed the company one of the prime beneficiaries of investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Despite the benchmark indexes creating new record highs, investors are cautious amid resurgent inflation and uncertain geopolitical conditions in the Middle East.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices decreased 2.4% to $92.77 a barrel, and traders held out for a temporary peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, paving the way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Movers
DoorDash rose 8% to $182.50 after the food delivery platform operator signaled a positive revenue outlook for the current quarter.
Zillow Group declined 6% to $41.85 after the real estate platform operator's revenue in its latest quarter fell short of market expectations.
Arm Holdings PLC dropped 8% to $218.0, and the advanced chip designer said annual revenue growth in its mobile market may be flat or slightly negative.
McDonald's Corp. edged up 3% to $294.17 after the fast-food company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.83 on revenue of $6.5 billion.
Whirlpool Corp. plunged 20% to $43.0 after the home appliance maker slashed its full-year earnings per share estimate from $6.0 to between $3.0 and $3.50.
The refrigerator and washing machine maker said higher fuel prices are causing "recession-level industry decline."
The company also suspended its dividend, and added it plans to focus on paying down its debt.
Japan's Indexes Closed at New Record Highs, Nikkei 225 Jumped 5%
Akira Ito
07 May, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's indexes soared and investors returned from a holiday, as Japanese equities caught up with advances in world markets.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 5.5%, and the broader Topix gained 3% following strong advances in technology stocks.
Tech stocks powered the market rally after the U.S.-based Advanced Micro Devices reported nearly a 40% annual rise in revenue in the first quarter, driven by the sustained demand from data centers.
AI- and semiconductor-linked stocks jumped more than 5% following AMD's results.
AMD, Intel, and other leading semiconductor companies have reported better-than-expected quarterly results. Moreover, the outlook for revenue growth has surpassed market expectations.
The strong quarterly results reinforced optimism around the sustained elevated level of investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, and a large manufacturing deal between Corning Inc. and Nvidia confirmed rapid growth in innovation in the ecosystem.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average soared 5.5% to 62,833.84, and the broader Topix advanced 3% to 3,840.49.
Tokyo Electron, Advantest Corp., SoftBank Group, and Lasertec Corp. gained between 3% and 6%.
Nippon Yusen, Kawasaki Kisen Corp., and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines traded around the flatlines amid improving sentiment around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and easing tensions in the Middle East.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group gained between 2% and 3%.
Japan's Indexes Closed at New Record Highs, Nikkei 225 Jumped 5%
Akira Ito
07 May, 2026
Tokyo
Japan's indexes soared and investors returned from a holiday, as Japanese equities caught up with advances in world markets.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average jumped 5.5%, and the broader Topix gained 3% following strong advances in technology stocks.
Tech stocks powered the market rally after the U.S.-based Advanced Micro Devices reported nearly a 40% annual rise in revenue in the first quarter, driven by the sustained demand from data centers.
AI- and semiconductor-linked stocks jumped more than 5% following AMD's results.
AMD, Intel, and other leading semiconductor companies have reported better-than-expected quarterly results. Moreover, the outlook for revenue growth has surpassed market expectations.
The strong quarterly results reinforced optimism around the sustained elevated level of investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, and a large manufacturing deal between Corning Inc. and Nvidia confirmed rapid growth in innovation in the ecosystem.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average soared 5.5% to 62,833.84, and the broader Topix advanced 3% to 3,840.49.
Tokyo Electron, Advantest Corp., SoftBank Group, and Lasertec Corp. gained between 3% and 6%.
Nippon Yusen, Kawasaki Kisen Corp., and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines traded around the flatlines amid improving sentiment around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and easing tensions in the Middle East.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group gained between 2% and 3%.
Tech-Powered Rebound Lifted Indexes In Mainland China and Hong Kong
Li Chen
07 May, 2026
Hong Kong
Stocks in mainland China and Hong Kong advanced tracking gains in overnight trading in New York and rising possibilities of easing tensions in the Middle East.
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.3%.
Crude oil prices eased a fraction following sharp losses in the previous session, as investors held out for a faster resolution to reopening of ocean trade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Technology stocks and AI-linked stocks led most actively stocks list in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.5% to 26,602.12, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index rose 0.3% to 4,890.32
Alibaba Group, Baidu, Tencent Holdings, and SMIC gained between 2% and 5%.
CNOOC, China Petroleum and Chemical, and PetroChina Company declined between 0.5% and 5%.
China Vanke, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and Henderson Land Development edged up between 1% and 3%.
Tech-Powered Rebound Lifted Indexes In Mainland China and Hong Kong
Li Chen
07 May, 2026
Hong Kong
Stocks in mainland China and Hong Kong advanced tracking gains in overnight trading in New York and rising possibilities of easing tensions in the Middle East.
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index edged up 0.3%.
Crude oil prices eased a fraction following sharp losses in the previous session, as investors held out for a faster resolution to reopening of ocean trade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Technology stocks and AI-linked stocks led most actively stocks list in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng Index increased 1.5% to 26,602.12, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 Index rose 0.3% to 4,890.32
Alibaba Group, Baidu, Tencent Holdings, and SMIC gained between 2% and 5%.
CNOOC, China Petroleum and Chemical, and PetroChina Company declined between 0.5% and 5%.
China Vanke, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and Henderson Land Development edged up between 1% and 3%.
Earnings and Hormuz Optimism Propel Wall Street indexes to New Record Highs
Barry Adams
06 May, 2026
New York City
U.S. stock market indexes advanced amid conflicting reports that suggested that the U.S. and Iran are close to entering a temporary peace agreement.
The U.S. president toned down his rhetoric toward Iran and its military and appeared to strike a tone that raised hopes for the resumption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20% of global crude oil shipments pass through the narrow passageway in the Middle East, and the crucial artery plays a significant role in delivering crude oil and LPG gas from the Gulf nations to India, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Moreover, at least fifteen nations in Asia are dependent on Gulf nations for the supply of their energy products, impacting more than three-quarters of the world population.
The sharp decline in today's oil prices was driven by the expectations that the U.S. and Iran are closer-than-expected in striking a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude oil prices dropped 13% to $88.95 a barrel, and international Brent crude prices plunged 11% to $97.20 a barrel.
Broader averages in Europe soared between 2% and 3%, and benchmark indexes in Japan and India advanced 0.4% and 1%, respectively.
Indexes and mainland China and Hong Kong gained more than 1% after investors returned from the Labor Day weekend.
Wall Street indexes scaled new highs in the previous trading session and extended five-week gains.
Since the latest market rally from the bottom on March 30, the S&P 500 index is now up 17%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has gained over 20%.
Moreover, corporate earnings have surpassed market expectations, delivering another upward push to the leading tech and industrial companies.
U.S. Movers
Advanced Micro Devices soared 21% to $429.58 after the chip and server company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results.
The sustained growth in demand from data centers supported the increase in outlook beyond the market expectations.
Revenue jumped 38% to $10.3 billion from $7.4 billion, net income advanced 95% to $1.4 billion from $709 million, and diluted earnings per share soared 91% to 84 cents from 44 cents a year ago.
Data center revenue soared 57% from a year ago to $5.8 billion, driven by strong demand for the company's CPU and GPU processors.
Client and gaming segment revenue rose 23% to $3.6 billion, and embedded segment revenue increased 6% to $873 million.
For the second quarter, the company estimated revenue of $11.2 billion, with a band of $300 million, an annual increase of 46% from the midpoint of the range, and a sequential increase of 9%.
The company guided an adjusted gross margin of 56%.
In the year so far, AMD has surged 65% and, over the last 52 weeks of trading, advanced 260%.
Earnings and Hormuz Optimism Propel Wall Street indexes to New Record Highs
Barry Adams
06 May, 2026
New York City
U.S. stock market indexes advanced amid conflicting reports that suggested that the U.S. and Iran are close to entering a temporary peace agreement.
The U.S. president toned down his rhetoric toward Iran and its military and appeared to strike a tone that raised hopes for the resumption of trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20% of global crude oil shipments pass through the narrow passageway in the Middle East, and the crucial artery plays a significant role in delivering crude oil and LPG gas from the Gulf nations to India, China, Japan, and South Korea.
Moreover, at least fifteen nations in Asia are dependent on Gulf nations for the supply of their energy products, impacting more than three-quarters of the world population.
The sharp decline in today's oil prices was driven by the expectations that the U.S. and Iran are closer-than-expected in striking a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude oil prices dropped 13% to $88.95 a barrel, and international Brent crude prices plunged 11% to $97.20 a barrel.
Broader averages in Europe soared between 2% and 3%, and benchmark indexes in Japan and India advanced 0.4% and 1%, respectively.
Indexes and mainland China and Hong Kong gained more than 1% after investors returned from the Labor Day weekend.
Wall Street indexes scaled new highs in the previous trading session and extended five-week gains.
Since the latest market rally from the bottom on March 30, the S&P 500 index is now up 17%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite has gained over 20%.
Moreover, corporate earnings have surpassed market expectations, delivering another upward push to the leading tech and industrial companies.
U.S. Movers
Advanced Micro Devices soared 21% to $429.58 after the chip and server company reported better-than-expected first-quarter results.
The sustained growth in demand from data centers supported the increase in outlook beyond the market expectations.
Revenue jumped 38% to $10.3 billion from $7.4 billion, net income advanced 95% to $1.4 billion from $709 million, and diluted earnings per share soared 91% to 84 cents from 44 cents a year ago.
Data center revenue soared 57% from a year ago to $5.8 billion, driven by strong demand for the company's CPU and GPU processors.
Client and gaming segment revenue rose 23% to $3.6 billion, and embedded segment revenue increased 6% to $873 million.
For the second quarter, the company estimated revenue of $11.2 billion, with a band of $300 million, an annual increase of 46% from the midpoint of the range, and a sequential increase of 9%.
The company guided an adjusted gross margin of 56%.
In the year so far, AMD has surged 65% and, over the last 52 weeks of trading, advanced 260%.
U.S. Indexes Stayed Near Record Highs Overlooking Oil Volatility and Hormuz Risks
Barry Adams
05 May, 2026
New York City
Stocks on Wall Street retained an upward bias amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2% as Iran and the U.S. claimed control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the lingering uncertainty in the Middle East, benchmark indexes traded at new record highs following strong earnings reports from leading tech and industrial companies.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices edged down 2.3% to $103.90 a barrel, and international Brent crude oil prices declined 1.4% to $112.76 a barrel as investors hoped for a speedier resolution to talks between Iran and the U.S.
Since the end of March, the S&P 500 index has rebounded nearly 15%, and the Nasdaq Composite has advanced nearly 19% amid a recovery from the initial shock of the start of the war in the Middle East.
On the economic front, investors are excited for the release of April’s non-farm payrolls data on Friday, and they are anticipating an increase of net 40,000.
U.S. Movers
Duolingo decreased 1.5% to $108.75 after the language-learning mobile app operator reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Revenue increased 27% to $292.0 million, and total bookings jumped 14% to $308.5 million from a year ago, respectively.
The company reported 133.1 million monthly active users last quarter, sharply lower than the 145 million estimated by analysts on Wall Street.
Net income increased to $43.5 million from $35.1 million, and diluted earnings per share advanced to 89 cents from 72 cents a year ago.
U.S. Indexes Stayed Near Record Highs Overlooking Oil Volatility and Hormuz Risks
Barry Adams
05 May, 2026
New York City
Stocks on Wall Street retained an upward bias amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.2% as Iran and the U.S. claimed control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the lingering uncertainty in the Middle East, benchmark indexes traded at new record highs following strong earnings reports from leading tech and industrial companies.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil prices edged down 2.3% to $103.90 a barrel, and international Brent crude oil prices declined 1.4% to $112.76 a barrel as investors hoped for a speedier resolution to talks between Iran and the U.S.
Since the end of March, the S&P 500 index has rebounded nearly 15%, and the Nasdaq Composite has advanced nearly 19% amid a recovery from the initial shock of the start of the war in the Middle East.
On the economic front, investors are excited for the release of April’s non-farm payrolls data on Friday, and they are anticipating an increase of net 40,000.
U.S. Movers
Duolingo decreased 1.5% to $108.75 after the language-learning mobile app operator reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Revenue increased 27% to $292.0 million, and total bookings jumped 14% to $308.5 million from a year ago, respectively.
The company reported 133.1 million monthly active users last quarter, sharply lower than the 145 million estimated by analysts on Wall Street.
Net income increased to $43.5 million from $35.1 million, and diluted earnings per share advanced to 89 cents from 72 cents a year ago.
Japanese Yen Rebounded 3% After a Joint intervention
Li Chen
01 May, 2026
Tokyo
Stocks in Japan advanced on Friday, and investors assessed interest rate outlook amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf.
The Nikki 225 Stock Average increased 0.5%, the broad Topix edged up 0.1%, and the yen soared as much as 3% following an intervention by authorities.
The yen settled higher by 2% to 157.25 against the U.S. dollar following a joint intervention by the Bank of Japan and the Ministry of Finance.
Crude oil and energy product shipments through the Persian Gulf remained disrupted amid ongoing dual blockade by the U.S. and Iran.
Brent crude oil prices jumped 1.5% to $115.02 a barrel after the US president reaffirmed the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran reiterated it would not relinquish its nuclear capabilities and signaled continued control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan Indexes
The Nikki 225 Stock Average increased 0.5% to 59,580.51, and the broader Topix gained 0.1% to 3,732.07.
SoftBank Group jumped 4% to ¥5,424.0, Advantest Corp. decreased 1.6% to ¥27,815.0, and Tokyo Electron Ltd. advanced 6.9% to ¥47,450.0.
Japanese Yen Rebounded 3% After a Joint intervention
Li Chen
01 May, 2026
Tokyo
Stocks in Japan advanced on Friday, and investors assessed interest rate outlook amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf.
The Nikki 225 Stock Average increased 0.5%, the broad Topix edged up 0.1%, and the yen soared as much as 3% following an intervention by authorities.
The yen settled higher by 2% to 157.25 against the U.S. dollar following a joint intervention by the Bank of Japan and the Ministry of Finance.
Crude oil and energy product shipments through the Persian Gulf remained disrupted amid ongoing dual blockade by the U.S. and Iran.
Brent crude oil prices jumped 1.5% to $115.02 a barrel after the US president reaffirmed the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran reiterated it would not relinquish its nuclear capabilities and signaled continued control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Japan Indexes
The Nikki 225 Stock Average increased 0.5% to 59,580.51, and the broader Topix gained 0.1% to 3,732.07.
SoftBank Group jumped 4% to ¥5,424.0, Advantest Corp. decreased 1.6% to ¥27,815.0, and Tokyo Electron Ltd. advanced 6.9% to ¥47,450.0.
Tech Leaders Confirm AI Investment Plans After Strong Quarterly Results
Barry Adams
30 Apr, 2026
New York City
Benchmark indexes rested near the flat line as investors reviewed the latest batch of earnings.
The S&P 500 Index edged down 0.2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 0.3% after leading tech companies reported quarterly results.
Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Microsoft reported sharp advances in revenue and earnings in the first quarter.
Crude oil prices traded at four-year highs of $106 a barrel amid reports that the U.S. is preparing for an extended blockage of Iranian ports until a nuclear agreement is reached.
The The Federal Reserve left fed funds rates in the range of 3.5% and 3.75% unrevised, lowering 2026 economic growth to 2.0% from the previous estimate of 2.2%, and the PCE Price Index is accelerating to 2.7%.
Fed Chairman Powell cited elevated inflation and increased global energy prices as key reasons for the weakening broader economic outlook.
U.S. Movers
Amazon.com Inc. gained 2.6% to $269.88 after the e-commerce company reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Microsoft decreased 1.8% to $416.90 after the software developer reported fiscal third-quarter results.
Revenue from Azure and other cloud services soared 40% from a year ago.
Meta Platforms declined 9% to $610.90 after the company's capital spending estimate of $19.84 billion fell short of market expectations.
Alphabet Inc. jumped 7.3% to $372.66 after the revenue of the search engine reached $107.2 billion.
Tech Leaders Confirm AI Investment Plans After Strong Quarterly Results
Barry Adams
30 Apr, 2026
New York City
Benchmark indexes rested near the flat line as investors reviewed the latest batch of earnings.
The S&P 500 Index edged down 0.2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite decreased 0.3% after leading tech companies reported quarterly results.
Alphabet Inc., Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Microsoft reported sharp advances in revenue and earnings in the first quarter.
Crude oil prices traded at four-year highs of $106 a barrel amid reports that the U.S. is preparing for an extended blockage of Iranian ports until a nuclear agreement is reached.
The The Federal Reserve left fed funds rates in the range of 3.5% and 3.75% unrevised, lowering 2026 economic growth to 2.0% from the previous estimate of 2.2%, and the PCE Price Index is accelerating to 2.7%.
Fed Chairman Powell cited elevated inflation and increased global energy prices as key reasons for the weakening broader economic outlook.
U.S. Movers
Amazon.com Inc. gained 2.6% to $269.88 after the e-commerce company reported better-than-expected quarterly results.
Microsoft decreased 1.8% to $416.90 after the software developer reported fiscal third-quarter results.
Revenue from Azure and other cloud services soared 40% from a year ago.
Meta Platforms declined 9% to $610.90 after the company's capital spending estimate of $19.84 billion fell short of market expectations.
Alphabet Inc. jumped 7.3% to $372.66 after the revenue of the search engine reached $107.2 billion.
AI-Driven Tech Stocks Lead Gainers On Wall Street
Barry Adams
29 Apr, 2026
New York City
Stocks in New York traded sideways as investors reviewed another batch of earnings.
The S&P 500 Index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite stayed close to the flatline, and investors awaited the release of quarterly results from leading tech companies.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold the Fed funds rate unrevised between 3.5% and 3.75% for the third consecutive meeting in April, as policymakers assess the impact of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
With oil prices continuing to rise, reigniting inflationary forces, the outlook for the economy remains uncertain, despite the labor market and broader economic indicators remaining resilient.
U.S. Movers
Starbucks rose 5% to $102.0 after the coffee chain operator's quarterly results surpassed market expectations and the company raised its outlook.
Seagate Technology PLC soared 17% to $682.01 after the digital storage company reported strong third-quarter results and the company raised its outlook for the quarter.
NXP Semiconductors soared 18% to $272.00 after the company provided a strong second-quarter outlook.
Yum Brands Inc. increased 0.6% to $157.26 after the fast food company reported strong quarterly results, driven by an 8% rise in same-store sales at Taco Bell.