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US stocks searched for a footing on Wednesday after the S&P 500 (^GSPC) erased its losses for 2025 and Wall Street continued to debate the state of play on tariffs.
The S&P 500 was roughly flat while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) fell about 0.3%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) led the gains, popping 0.5%.
A tech rally helped push the Nasdaq higher, with shares of AMD (AMD) rising 4%, Alphabet (GOOGL, GOOG) ticking 3% higher, and shares of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) soaring 15%.
Prospects for chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA) — and the AI trade more widely — got a boost from plans to overhaul curbs on chip exports and new AI deals led by Saudi Arabia. The President Trump-backed moves come as markets debate the staying power of a "Magnificent Seven" rally driven by the US-China trade truce. Nvidia rallied another 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday.
Nvidia server maker Foxconn (2317.TW, HNHPF) flagged strong AI demand as it posted a 91% surge in quarterly profit on Wednesday. But the Taiwanese partner to Apple (AAPL) also cut its full-year outlook, citing uncertainty around tariffs.
Read more: The latest on Trump's tariffs
Earnings season elsewhere continued to show strain from trade tensions. American Eagle (AEO) became the latest company to withdraw guidance due to "macro uncertainty" on Tuesday, and the clothing retailer's stock tumbled in premarket trading.
In Japan, Sony (SONY) said it expects a $700 million impact from US tariffs and offered a disappointing forecast that wipes out its expected rise in profit.
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10-year Treasury yield hits highest level in a month
The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) continued its latest rise popping about two basis points to 4.52%, its highest level since the bond market saw wild swings the week of Trump's tariff walk back on April 9.
A persistent GOP fight over SALT deductions emerges as hurdle to Trump's 'big beautiful' tax bill
Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports
House Republicans earlier this week confirmed plans to triple the federal government’s state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 to $30,000 for all but the highest earners, part of their efforts to push through President Trump’s "big beautiful" tax bill.
But it was immediately rejected by a small but determined GOP "SALT caucus" that wants a higher level.
It has led to a days-long standoff and underlined a key hurdle to Trump's bill, with tense closed-door meetings and sniping online as the lawmakers try to find a deal while opposite sides of the Republican caucus pull in different directions.
"I was working on it up until to about 1:30 [a.m.] last night," House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday morning, saying he was trying to be a "neutral umpire in the negotiations" between the two sides but declining to offer any details about a possible compromise.
Healthcare worst-performing S&P 500 subsector year to date: Mizuho expert
Meme-like moves are back in the stock market
After a historic rip higher for the S&P 500 (^GSPC), investor risk appetite is spreading across the market.
In the latest sign, Reddit (RDDT), the home of the initial meme stock movement, is catching a massive bid on Wednesday, driven by seemingly no news catalyst. Shares of the social media company quickly rocketed up about 15% in late morning trading.
Reddit does share one quality with other popular retail names that have been rallying recently: It's heavily shorted. Per a list tracked by FinViz, Reddit has the 10th-highest short float among stocks with a market cap of more than $10 billion.
Other names on that top 10 list include Hims & Hers (HIMS), Super Micro Computer (SMCI), and Mobileye (MBLY). All three of those stocks are up about 14% or more over the past five days. There are some fundamental catalysts for some of the moves, such as Super Micro's $20 billion deal with Saudi Arabian data center company DataVolt.
But there's perhaps another takeaway from the large moves recently. It's clearly a risk-on vibe in the market right now, and some of the most heavily shorted stocks are proving to be some of the largest beneficiaries.
Three bullish signs to watch as stocks transition to a 'show me' market
Stocks have roared back in recent weeks as the US tariff escalation has reversed. Some on Wall Street have taken the rally a step further by boosting their year-end targets for the S&P 500.
BMO chief investment strategist Brian Belski isn't budging, though. At least not yet. Here are three things Belski is watching for to confirm things are continuing to get more bullish for stocks in what Belski now believes has shifted from a "scare me" market to a "show me" market.
Nvidia stock extends gains as Saudi Arabia set to spend billions on AI chips, US moves to rescind Biden's chip curbs
Nvidia (NVDA) stock jumped 1.9% early Wednesday, extending its gain from the prior day when shares rose nearly 6% and the AI chipmaker’s market cap surpassed $3 trillion for the first time since February.
The gains come as US chipmakers, including Nvidia, announced billions of dollars worth of deals with Saudi Arabia during an investment forum attended by President Trump on Tuesday.
Nvidia said it will supply several hundreds of thousands of its AI chips to Saudi Arabia’s AI venture Humain over the next five years. Humain is a new AI venture owned by Saudi Arabia’s $925 billion Public Investment Fund.
Bank of America (BAC) analysts estimated the total value of the deal is $7 billion and raised its price target on Nvidia stock to $160 from $150 in a note to investors Wednesday morning.
The AI chipmaker’s Saudi Arabia deal helped brighten Wall Street’s outlook for its sales abroad just after Trump banned exports of its chips f China, but his administration looked to ease Biden-era restrictions on Nvidia’s exports to the rest of the world (including the Middle East).
The Department of Commerce on Tuesday announced that it had initiated the rescission of Biden’s AI Diffusion rule.
Tesla adds to gains with a new pay deal for Musk reportedly in the works
Tesla (TSLA) stock chugged higher at the open on Wednesday after a Financial Times report that the EV maker's board is once again exploring how to compensate CEO Elon Musk.
But while a new pay package may be in the works, it doesn't come without controversy surrounding the CEO and Tesla board of directors, as Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports:
Stocks float higher at the open
US stocks searched for a footing on Wednesday after the S&P 500 (^GSPC) erased its losses for 2025 and Wall Street continued to debate the state of play on tariffs.
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) rose 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.4% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) popped 0.2%.
Nvidia (NVDA) continued its recent rally, rising more than 3%.
Trending tickers: Tech stocks positive in premarket trading
Shares of AI leaders and chipmakers moved higher on Wednesday morning as easing trade tensions and new chip deals with Saudi Arabia lifted hopes for the tech sector.
Here's a look at some of the top tickers trending in premarket trading:
Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock soared more than 17% on Wednesday, adding on to Tuesday's 16% gain, after Raymond James initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and $41 price target on shares. Raymond James said the company has “emerged as a market leader in AI-optimized infrastructure,” even as the stock has been highly volatile so far this year.
Nvidia (NVDA) shares extended their rally on the back of thawing trade tensions and a new chip deal with Saudi Arabia. The chipmaker's stock added 3% premarket and is set to put Nvidia's market capitalization more firmly over the $3 trillion mark.
Tesla (TSLA) stock rose nearly 3%, adding to the week's gains. The Financial Times reports that Tesla's board has formed a special committee to explore an alternative pay package for CEO Elon Musk as the company and Musk remain locked in a legal battle in Delaware over Musk's compensation.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) stock jumped 4% after President Trump touted new Saudi investment deals with US chipmakers and chip designers. AMD reportedly struck a $10 billion deal with Humain, an AI startup backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
Sony (SONY) reported a weaker-than-expected financial outlook for the year and cautioned that it expects a $700 million headwind from tariffs. The PlayStation maker also beat on earnings estimates, announced a share buyback plan, and shared more details about the partial spin-off of its financial unit. US-listed shares of Sony were up over 5%.
American Eagle stock tanks 11% premarket
American Eagle (AEO) warned its first quarter earnings may disappoint.
Shares of the retailer tumbled more than 11% in premarket trading after the company pulled its 2025 financial outlook and said it would write down $75 million in excess spring and summer inventory.
The company said Tuesday that it expects same-store sales to fall 3% to $1.1 billion in the first quarter. It also anticipates an adjusted operating loss of about $68 million as its strategies did not drive the results it expected.
The Pittsburgh company withdrew its guidance for the year, citing macro uncertainty.
Dollar extends losses for second day
The dollar extended declines on Wednesday morning, following a significant move lower overnight, as inflation and trade tensions eased.
The US dollar index (DX-Y.NYB), which tracks the dollar against a basket of currencies, fell 0.41% to 100 as the Japanese yen and South Korean won strengthened.
Reuters reports:
Good morning. Here's what's happening today.
Super Micro stock set for more gains after bullish rating
Shares of Super Micro Computer (SMCI) jumped almost 10%, poised to extend sharp gains booked in Tuesday's big tech rally.
The AI server maker was also basking in an Outperform rating from Raymond James analysts as they initiated coverage of the stock, calling Super Micro a "market leader".
Oil falls as traders note jump in US crude stockpiles
The China tariff pause has Wall Street scaling back recession calls
Yahoo Finance's Josh Schafer reports:
eToro Group plans upsized IPO months after SEC registration issues
Reuters reports:
eToro Group is planning to raise around $620 million in an upsized U.S. initial public offering (IPO) priced above market range, the company said on Tuesday.
The stock and cryptocurrency trading platform has offered 11.92 million shares at $52 apiece, above its target range of $46 to $50.
The stock is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "ETOR" on Wednesday, May 14.
