Stock Market Today: Stocks end higher, tech stalls amid tariff confusion
Stocks are looking to extend their strongest weekly rally since late 2023.
Updated at 4:27 PM EDT
Stocks ended firmly higher Monday, powered by gains for megacap tech stocks, following President Donald Trump's move to exempt some computers, smartphone and electronics components from the sweeping levies he imposed on China last week.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 312.08 points, or 0.78%, to finish the session at 40,524.79, while the S&P 500 gained 0.79% to 5,405.97 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.64% to end at the day 16,831.48.
Updated at 12:27 PM EDT
Fading tech
Tech stocks turned briefly lower in early afternoon trading amid the ongoing confusion tied to the Trump's administration's tariff messaging and Treasury bond yields creep higher following the lack of progress on inflation expectations and the broader fixed income market uncertainty.
The S&P 500 was last marked 24 points, or 0.43% higher on the session with the Nasdaq last up just 15 points, or 0.07%.
Apple shares, meanwhile, were holding their earlier gains, and were last up just over 2% as investors re-priced the tech giant following the President's decision to exempt certain tech components, PCs and smartphones from his restrictive China tariffs.
Related: Analysts revisit Apple stock price target as Trump offers tariff relief
Updated at 11:10 AM EDT
Faster ahead
The New York Federal Reserve's monthly survey of inflation expectations jumped higher again in March, with respondents seeing year-ahead price pressures rising to 3.6% from the 3.1% estimate reported in February.
Five-year forecasts, meanwhile, edged modestly lower, to 2.9% from a February reading of 3%.
"Unemployment, job loss, and earnings growth expectations deteriorated. Household income growth expectations declined," the survey noted. "Households were also more pessimistic about their year-ahead financial situations and credit access."
Stocks were little-changed following the release, with the Dow up 385 points and the S&P 500 last seen 63 points, or 1.17% to the upside.
The NY Fed survey shows one-year ahead inflation expectations rose to 3.6% in March from 3.1% in February
Three-year ahead inflation expectations held steady at 3%
Five-year ahead inflation expectations ticked down to 2.9% from 3%. pic.twitter.com/q4NT0xZnEL— Nick Timiraos (@NickTimiraos) April 14, 2025
Updated at 9:35 AM EDT
Solid open
The S&P 500 was marked 84 points, or 1.56% higher in the opening minutes of trading, with the Nasdaq rising 363 points, or 2.17%
The Dow gained 423 points while the Russell 2000 jumped 31 points, or 1.65%. Benchmark 10-year note yields eased 4 basis points from overnight levels to 4.411%.
"Stocks followed up their worst week since March 2020 with their best since November 2023. If the rebound is going to have legs in the near term, investors will probably need to see continued signs of flexibility from the White House on tariffs," said Chris Larkin, managing director for trading and investing at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley.
"Uncertainty is still high, and day-to-day volatility could remain elevated, especially if soft data stokes recession concerns," he added. "Barring any surprises on the policy front, earnings could become more of a focus for the markets, with an emphasis on forward guidance."
S&P 500 Opening Bell Heatmap (Apr. 14, 2025)$SPY +1.64%
