Finance

In contrast to the broader market gains, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell approximately 80 points, or 0.2%, to close at 49,230.71. The decline was attributed to weakness in cyclical and financial stocks, which lagged behind the tech-driven surge seen elsewhere.

Oil prices remained volatile with Brent crude trading around $106 per barrel as investors monitored potential peace talks between the US and Iran. While the energy sector has retreated 10% in April, it remains up significantly for the year due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

US Treasury yields ended the week higher, with the 10-year note finishing at 4.31% and the 30-year yield rising to 4.91%. Positive retail sales data and strong corporate earnings have suggested a resilient economy, slightly dampening immediate expectations for aggressive Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Bitcoin held steady above $77,000, putting it on track for its strongest monthly gain in over a year with a 13.6% increase in April. The rebound has been supported by increased liquidity from a surge in stablecoin supply and a general recovery in institutional capital inflows.

Roughly 81% of S&P 500 companies that have reported results for the first quarter of 2026 have exceeded analyst profit estimates. Analysts are now projecting an overall annual earnings growth of 18.6% for the calendar year, driven by strength in the technology and financial sectors.