Large Cap Stocks Rebound While Tariff Rhetoric Continued Midweek – ( $AAPL $EPRX $MCD $META $MODD $NVDA $PLTR $TSLA Rise!)
- Published Aug 06, 2025
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Wall Street rebounded in midweek trading as all major indices—except for small caps—posted gains, reflecting renewed enthusiasm for technology and consumer stocks. Investors digested a round of strong corporate earnings and closely tracked macroeconomic updates, while trade and central bank developments remained in focus.
S&P 500, Dow 30, Nasdaq, and Russell Index Performance
The S&P 500 advanced 0.73% to close at 6,345.06, with broad leadership from both core and growth names. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81.38 points, or 0.18%, to finish at 44,193.12. Technology stocks propelled the Nasdaq Composite 1.21% higher to 21,169.42, highlighting robust gains among leading AI and software firms. Helping boost moods widely, influential tech giant Apple (AAPL, $213.25, +5.09%) announced plans to invest an additional $100B in US manufacturing commitments during a press event at the White House with President Trump on Wednesday. The move follows Apple’s prior $500B investment in US spending, which includes working with partners to build an AI server plant in Texas. In contrast, the Russell 2000 fell 0.2% to 2,221.29, extending its recent relative underperformance as small caps trailed large- and mega-cap peers.
Key Macroeconomic Reports
Economic releases on Wednesday highlighted mixed trends. Recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis showed U.S. personal income and consumer spending both up 0.3% in June, indicating steady but moderate momentum entering the back half of summer. The U.S. trade deficit narrowed to $60.2 billion, an improvement from May, driven by a slower drop in exports compared to imports. The latest GDP figures confirmed a 3.0% annualized increase for Q2, a sharp rebound after contracting in Q1, fueled by resurgent consumer activity and inventory restocking. These readings underscored continued resilience in the economy, despite ongoing labor and inflation concerns.
Tariffs and Trade Policy Updates
Tariff rhetoric stayed prominent on Wednesday. The U.S. maintained its recent “reciprocal tariffs,” affecting key partners in Asia and the Americas. Negotiations with the EU remain constructive, thereby preserving a preferential 15% tariff rate for most European goods, while discussions with Canada and Mexico are ongoing. Broadly, global trade policy remains a source of volatility, impacting sectoral performance and guiding multinationals’ operations.
Yield Curve and Interest Rate Movements
Treasury yields saw little movement as traders weighed prospects for Federal Reserve action at the September meeting. The 2-year Treasury edged lower to 3.72%, and the 10-year closed up at 4.232%. Investor sentiment reflected a delicate balance between cooling growth signals and hopes for policy support later in the year.
FOMC Announcements
No new policy decisions were announced by the Federal Reserve today. However, officials continued to emphasize a data-dependent stance, reiterating that any further softening in economic indicators could prompt an earlier-than-expected rate cut. The conclusion of the next FOMC meeting is expected to clarify the central bank’s approach toward inflation and labor market trends.
Sector and Stock Highlights
NVIDIA (NVDA)
NVIDIA climbed .65% to close at $179.42 as large-cap technology shares led market gains. Renewed investor optimism about AI chip sales and robust recent earnings—widely regarded as a bellwether for the sector—kept NVDA shares near all-time highs. The company remains the premier beneficiary of the accelerating global shift to artificial intelligence, with analysts reiterating their bullish outlook amid ongoing product launches.
Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla saw volatility to the upside gaining 3.62% and closing at $319.91, as investors weighed margin concerns against continued innovation in both EVs and AI-related initiatives. The company’s efforts to diversify its global supply chain and strengthen partnerships outside China remained in focus, keeping enthusiasm alive even against a challenging competitive environment.
Meta Platforms (META)
Meta shares rose another 1.12% to close at record $771.99 after the recent blockbuster Q2 earnings release. The company’s revenue jumped 22% year-over-year to $47.52 billion, and profit climbed 38% to $7.14 per share, both beating expectations by a wide margin. Meta cited accelerated AI adoption and robust user growth as key drivers, with management also raising its capital spending outlook for continued investment in generative AI leadership.
McDonald’s (MCD)
McDonald’s advanced nearly 3% following a robust earnings beat for the second quarter to close at $307.66. Adjusted earnings of $3.19 per share and revenue growth of 5% exceeded analyst estimates. Improved profit margins, global same-store sales gains, and better-than-expected international performance drove the rally, despite management withholding explicit guidance for the rest of the year.
Oracle (ORCL)
Oracle continued its ascent closing at $256.43 after TD Cowen raised its price target to $325 and maintained a Buy rating, citing strong outlooks for cloud and AI solutions. Recent contract wins and continued demand for enterprise AI have positioned Oracle as a leader in the software sector, though some analysts see potential for moderation following a strong run-up.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Palantir sustained its momentum after surging to record highs this week, buoyed by a 5% premarket jump on the back of another raised full-year revenue forecast. Shares closed at $179.54, +3.62%. Quarterly results delivered over $1 billion in revenue and surging demand for AI-powered analytics platforms. Analysts praised Palantir for capitalizing on heightened government and corporate demand, with major price target upgrades reflecting expectations for continued rapid growth.
Rio Tinto Group (RIO)
Rio Tinto traded essentially flat, but still up at $60.09, +.65% as investors weighed subdued iron ore and base metals prices against disciplined capital allocation and strengthening positions in high-margin metals segments. Management’s focus on operational excellence and long-term shareholder returns tempered the impact of a softer commodity cycle.
Commodities and Digital Assets
- Gold edged .08% lower closing at $3,431.80as a defensive play amid tariff and growth uncertainty.
- Silver closed .30% up for the session at $37.935. The iShares Silver trust (SLV) closed at $34.35, flat on the day and is up +30.46% YTD.
- Crude Oil prices fell 1.37% to close at $64.27/bbl as investors weighed persistent geopolitical risk against softening global growth prospects.
- Bitcoin rose 1.31% to close near $115,650, as ongoing institutional adoption offered support even amid market choppiness.