01 Stock Market

The U.S. major indexes closed as follows: Dow Jones down 0.15% at 48,463.72; S&P 500 up 0.80% at 7,022.95; NASDAQ up 1.59% at 24,016.02. The tech-heavy NASDAQ notched fresh record highs for both intraday and closing levels, while the broader S&P 500 also set a new peak. Investor optimism over cooling Middle-East tensions and upbeat early-season earnings supported risk appetite despite lingering macro risks.

Tesla’s surge and quantum-computing plays headlined an action-packed session. Tesla (TSLA) rallied 7.62% to $391.95 after CEO Elon Musk teased a new AI chip, sparking its best day in months. AI favourites also marched on: Nvidia (NVDA) gained 1.20% to $198.87, sealing its 11-day winning streak; Microsoft (MSFT) advanced 4.61% to $411.22; and Palantir (PLTR) added 4.75% to $142.15. Quantum names ripped higher, with IONQ (IONQ) up 20.95% at $43.25 after Nvidia’s quantum AI news, while D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) leapt 22.63% to $20.81. Software and chip beneficiaries also impressed: Oracle (ORCL) rose 4.18% to $169.81, Broadcom (AVGO) climbed 4.20% to $390.95, and Intel (INTC) firmed 1.77% to $64.94. On the downside, memory names lagged, with SanDisk (SNDK) sliding 5.58% to $891.72 and Micron (MU) easing 2.03% to $456.23.

Earnings and corporate actions fuelled further stock-specific moves. Morgan Stanley (MS) rose 2.5% to $191.62 after record trading revenue drove a profit beat; Snap (SNAP) jumped 7.9% to $6.04 on news of 1,000 job cuts and cost-saving plans; and Allbirds (BIRD) rocketed 582.33% to $16.99 following a $50 million financing and an AI-infrastructure pivot. Conversely, SolarEdge (SEDG) fell 11.98% to $37.83 after a Goldman Sachs downgrade citing margin pressure.

02 Other Markets

U.S. 10-year Treasury yield rose by 0.06%, latest at 4.28%.

USD/CNH rose 0.02%, at 6.86; USD/HKD fell 0.00%, at 7.83.

U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.04%, at 98.04.

WTI crude futures fell 0.43%, at 87.75 USD/bbl; COMEX gold futures rose 0.16%, at 4,831.10 USD/oz.

03 Top News

1. Nvidia clinched an 11-session winning streak, its longest ever. Analysts cite revived AI optimism and a calmer macro backdrop for the 20%+ run this month. Benchmark says constant good news across the AI supply chain is sustaining momentum.

2. Tesla shares soared after Elon Musk revealed the “AI5” microchip for its Optimus robot. The tweet ignited a seven-percent jump, aided by hopes of looser SEC day-trading rules that energise retail buyers. Investors now await the firm’s earnings update on April 22.

3. Morgan Stanley beat expectations with a profit of $3.43 per share, lifted by dealmaking and record equity-trading revenue. Investment-banking fees surged 36% and equities revenue jumped 25%. Shares rose in response as management highlighted a robust advisory pipeline.

4. Snap will cut about 1,000 jobs, roughly 16% of its workforce, to trim costs and accelerate AI initiatives. The social-media firm also plans to close more than 300 open roles. Investors welcomed the restructuring, sending the stock up nearly eight percent.

5. Broadcom secured a multiyear agreement to supply custom AI accelerator chips to Meta Platforms. The partnership, extending through 2029, ensures demand for Broadcom’s MTIA processors. Analysts at JPMorgan said the deal underpins a strong multi-year revenue ramp.

6. The SEC approved sweeping changes that scrap the $25,000 pattern-day-trader rule, boosting retail brokers. Customers will now face risk-based equity requirements instead of fixed thresholds. Robinhood’s shares jumped as much as eight percent on the development.

7. Former President Donald Trump warned he would fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell if Powell stays beyond his May 15 term. The remark heightens uncertainty as nominee Kevin Warsh awaits Senate confirmation. Legal hurdles surrounding an investigation into Powell complicate the succession timeline.

8. Goldman Sachs downgraded SolarEdge to “Sell” and slashed its price target to $31. The bank cited margin pressures and rising competition in solar equipment. SolarEdge shares fell nearly seven percent after the call.

9. Eos Energy announced a partnership with Turbine-X to deploy up to 2 GWh of battery systems for AI data-center power. Initial installations are scheduled for 2027, targeting multi-hundred-megawatt sites. The stock surged over fifteen percent on the news.

10. Footwear maker Allbirds unveiled a $50 million financing facility and plans to transform into “NewBird AI.” The company aims to pivot from shoes to GPU-as-a-Service and cloud solutions. Shares skyrocketed about two-hundred percent following the announcement.

Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, Tiger Newspress, public market data Disclaimer: This content is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice.