Stock Market Update Wednesday April 23, 2025

Stock Market Update Wednesday April 23, 2025 Equities surged at the open on Wednesday, propelled by renewed investor optimism surrounding de-escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions and market relief over the absence of any immediate threat to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s position. Risk appetite was evident across major indices, with early gains reflecting a bullish sentiment shift. However, the upward momentum moderated as the session progressed, with gains tapering off amid cautious sentiment and emerging qualifiers around the trade narrative. In after-hours trading, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) disappointed with an earnings miss, attributing weaker results to softening consumer discretionary spending — a potential harbinger for forthcoming corporate earnings across the retail and restaurant sectors.

Closing Performance:

• S&P 500 (SPX): +1.7%

• Nasdaq-100 (QQQ): +2.3%

• Russell 2000 (IWM): +1.7%

Away From Stocks: In commodities, gold retreated sharply (-3%), giving back recent gains after an extended parabolic rally, as investors rotated out of safe havens amid a more constructive macro outlook. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) strengthened, climbing back toward the key psychological level of 100, reflecting firmer greenback demand. Meanwhile, in fixed income, the 10-year Treasury yield edged lower but held relatively stable, suggesting tempered movements in bond markets despite equity volatility.

Economic Calendar – April 24

• 8:30 AM EST• March Durable Goods Orders– Actual: +2.0%– Forecast: +1.0%

• 10:00 AM EST• March Existing Home Sales (Annual Rate)– Actual: 4.15M– Forecast: 4.26M

  • March Existing Home Sales (Month-over-Month)– Actual: -2.58%– Forecast: +4.16%