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HomeBusinessWall Street Soars as Netflix Reports Stellar Earnings and AI Stocks Shine;...

Wall Street Soars as Netflix Reports Stellar Earnings and AI Stocks Shine; S&P 500 Hits All-Time High

 

 

US stocks rise following impressive Netflix results and strong AI shares. S&P 500 hits record high.


Wall Street experienced a boost due to strong corporate earnings coupled with a strong performance from technology stocks, leading the broad S&P 500 index to reach a new record high.

 

Shares of Netflix surged to unprecedented levels after the streaming leader enjoyed a standout quarter. Key stocks connected with artificial intelligence, including Oracle, Nvidia, and Microsoft, also saw significant gains following an announcement about the Stargate AI venture from leaders of SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI in the presence of President Donald Trump.

“Trump’s enthusiastic support for Stargate is a significant boost for AI as he begins his second term, and aligns with our long-held belief that the S&P 500 will flourish in 2025 amid rising investment in this groundbreaking technology,” remarked John Higgins, the chief market economist at Capital Economics.

The S&P 500 finished up 0.61%, gaining 37.12 points to close at 6,086.36, just shy of its peak of 6,100.81 reached during trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.3%, or 130.92 points, to close at 44,156.73, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 1.28%, or 252.56 points, to reach 20,009.34. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury rose slightly to 4.605%.

 

Corporate news

A slew of positive earnings reports from various companies contributed to the optimistic market sentiment. Highlights included:

  • Netflix shares soared after outperforming quarterly earnings estimates, adding nearly 19 million new subscribers (a record), and raising its revenue forecast for 2025. The company is also increasing its subscription prices. Shares closed at a record $953.99, rising 9.69%, or 84.31 points, surpassing the previous closing high of $936.56 from December 11, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
  • SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI, with Trump in attendance, announced a $500 billion investment in AI in the U.S. Companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm Holdings will be involved in the infrastructure of the new venture, Stargate. Shares of all these companies rose.
  • Procter & Gamble exceeded analysts’ earnings expectations due to increased demand for essentials such as toilet paper and laundry supplies, with shares climbing by 3%.
  • Travelers, an insurance firm, reported record annual profits due to strong underwriting, resulting in a 3.21% uptick in its shares.

 

Conversely, Johnson & Johnson’s stock dropped nearly 2% after the company highlighted potential setbacks for this year, including Medicare changes and a stronger U.S. dollar impacting international sales. Although it reported better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit driven by higher sales of cancer treatments and some medical devices, its annual sales forecast fell short of market expectations.

 

Halliburton’s shares fell by 3.5% following the company’s warning of weakening activity in North America this year alongside weak quarterly revenue results.

 

What about Trump’s tariffs?

According to analysts, Trump’s recent softer stance on tariffs has allowed investors to set aside their concerns and concentrate instead on corporate news.

 

Prior to Monday’s inauguration, there were worries about a wide-ranging imposition of tariffs that could hinder economic growth. However, such fears were unfounded. Instead, “President Trump directed the government to explore various options,” reported Morgan Stanley economists in a note on Tuesday.

Trump’s comments on a proposed 10% tariff on Chinese imports set to start February 1 did little to sway the markets, as this figure is lower than previous tariffs he had suggested.

“There’s a clear trend emerging where President Trump initially takes a tough position and then softens it when addressing financial media,” noted Mike O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading.

 

Bitcoin volatility

Bitcoin continues to fluctuate widely, recently down 1.95% to $104,096.50.

Despite this, many analysts remain optimistic.

“We anticipate that Bitcoin’s price will stay elevated due to a more favorable regulatory and political climate in the U.S., rising institutional interest, and a more permissive Federal Reserve monetary policy,” stated Marion Laboure, an analyst at Deutsche Bank.

 

On Tuesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that acting Chair Mark Uyeda has initiated a “crypto task force” designed to create a clear regulatory framework for crypto assets.

(This article has been updated with new information.)

Medora Lee is a reporter focusing on money, markets, and personal finance.