Asian Stocks Slip as Oracle Earnings Miss Sparks AI Profitability Concerns 
Brazil Holds Selic Rate at 15% as Inflation Expectations Stay Elevated 
Hong Kong Cuts Base Rate as HKMA Follows U.S. Federal Reserve Move 
Global Markets Slide as Tech Stocks Sink, Yields Rise, and AI Concerns Deepen 
U.S. Dollar Slides for Third Straight Week as Rate Cut Expectations Boost Euro and Pound 
Mexico Moves to Increase Tariffs on Asian Imports to Protect Domestic Industries 
Modi and Trump Hold Phone Call as India Seeks Relief From U.S. Tariffs Over Russian Oil Trade 
Fed’s Dovish Tone Sends Dollar Lower as Markets Price In More Rate Cuts 
Oil Prices Rebound in Asia as Venezuela Sanctions Risks Offset Ukraine Peace Hopes 
US Signals Openness to New Trade Deal as Brazil Shows Willingness, Says USTR Greer 
Japan Weighs New Tax Breaks to Boost Corporate Investment Amid Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Hold Firm as Markets Await Fed Rate Cut; Silver Surges to Record High 
S&P 500 Slides as AI Chip Stocks Tumble, Cooling Tech Rally 
Russia Stocks End Flat as Energy and Retail Shares Show Mixed Performance 
U.S. stocks ended higher Thursday, lifted by Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) strong quarterly performance, despite investor unease over conflicting court rulings on Trump-era tariffs. The S&P 500 gained 0.40%, the Dow rose 0.28%, and the Nasdaq added 0.39%.
Nvidia shares climbed 3.2% after it reported robust sales fueled by a surge in demand for AI chips ahead of U.S. export restrictions to China. However, the company warned the new curbs could cut $8 billion from next quarter’s sales. Nvidia is now up just 3.6% year-to-date and was the final "Magnificent Seven" tech giant to report this season.
The session was marked by volatility after a late-day appeals court ruling reinstated sweeping tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump, just a day after a lower court had blocked them. Market watchers, however, appeared less reactive. "These court rulings are just headlines," said Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments, noting Trump often rolls back tariffs after making bold announcements—a trend dubbed "TACO" (Trump Always Chickens Out).
Salesforce (NYSE:CRM) fell 3.3% despite raising its annual forecasts, while Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) sank 7.3% on weaker sales guidance due to tariff concerns. Boeing (NYSE:BA) rose 3.3% after announcing plans to ramp up 737 MAX production.
Investors are focusing on corporate earnings as a key driver. “It’s about earnings in general,” said Oliver Pursche of Wealthspire Advisors. First-quarter GDP data showed a 0.2% contraction, slightly better than the expected 0.3% decline.
Market breadth was strong, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners 2.26-to-1 on the NYSE and 1.48-to-1 on the Nasdaq. Trading volume hit 18.65 billion shares, above the 20-day average of 17.7 billion, reflecting heightened investor activity amid mixed economic and policy signals.
