Published on 23/04/2026 12:40 AM
US Stock Market Live Updates: US stocks moved higher on Wednesday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses as President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran and investors navigated a fresh wave of corporate earnings ahead of Tesla’s results.The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite led the gains, rising 1.2%, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also climbed around 0.7%, reflecting a broad-based recovery across equities.Earlier, futures already signalled the positive start, with contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all inching higher in the premarket, pointing to a rebound after the previous session’s losses.The upside comes even as the broader narrative around the US-Iran conflict remains fragile. Trump’s decision to prolong the truce, citing a “seriously fractured” Iranian government, has bought time, but uncertainty persists after peace talks stalled. US officials have reportedly paused diplomatic efforts, while Tehran has dismissed negotiations as unproductive, keeping markets on edge.GE Vernova shares jumped 12% to a record high after the gas turbine maker posted strong results and raised guidance.The stock is now up more than 60% year-to-date, driven by robust backlog growth and strength in its services business.CEO Scott Strazik said the company added $13 billion to its backlog in the past 90 days and now expects it to reach $200 billion by 2027, ahead of earlier projections.Calix tumbled 16% after flagging margin headwinds for the year, overshadowing its better-than-expected first-quarter results.TE Connectivity dropped 12% as its second-quarter guidance came in roughly in line with estimates, failing to impress investors.Sonoco Products fell more than 15% after targeting the lower end of its full-year earnings outlook, with first-quarter results also missing expectations.
A strong market rally is gathering breadth, with 28 stocks in the S&P 500 hitting new 52-week highs on Tuesday, signalling improving investor sentiment.
Tech names led the surge, with Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco, and Dell Technologies touching record levels. Infrastructure and industrial plays like Quanta Services and GE Vernova also climbed to all-time highs.
Other notable gainers included Airbnb and Micron Technology, reflecting strength across sectors from travel to semiconductors.
In contrast, only one stock—Abbott Laboratories—slipped to a 52-week low, underscoring the market’s overall upward bias.
The broad-based rally suggests investors are increasingly confident, with momentum extending beyond a handful of large-cap names.
Vast Data has raised $1 billion in a fresh funding round, tripling its valuation to $30 billion as investor interest in AI infrastructure surges.
The round saw participation from major backers including Nvidia, alongside Drive Capital and Access Industries. Founded in 2016, Vast builds software to manage massive data workloads, powering AI systems that run on millions of GPUs.
The company counts clients such as CoreWeave, Mistral and even the U.S. Air Force, highlighting its growing role in large-scale AI deployments. It has crossed $4 billion in cumulative bookings and now has over $500 million in committed annual revenue.
The deal comes amid a global funding surge in AI, with startups raising hundreds of billions this year. Investors are betting that infrastructure players like Vast will be critical to sustaining the next phase of AI growth.
Google Cloud Platform is expected to see a sharp jump in revenue, with BMO analysts projecting earnings of $84.8 billion in 2026—up 44% from the previous year. The strong outlook reflects rising demand for cloud and AI infrastructure, even as competition intensifies.
Analysts say Alphabet is well-placed to gain market share, though its ability to add capacity quickly could limit growth. They expect the company’s stock to rise further, supported by improving earnings.
The surge in cloud revenue is also seen as a positive signal for heavy investments in artificial intelligence across the tech sector. However, analysts caution that retaining customers and expanding enterprise adoption will be key to sustaining momentum.
Despite the optimism around cloud, Alphabet still relies heavily on advertising, which remains vulnerable to global economic and geopolitical uncertainties.Oil prices climbed sharply, with Brent crude rising over 3% to top $100 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate traded above $92.Despite Donald Trump extending the ceasefire with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint, with reports of vessel attacks highlighting ongoing disruption to oil flows.The US has also paused further peace talks and continues its blockade, while Iran maintains control over parts of the critical shipping lane, keeping supply concerns elevated.While equity markets have largely shrugged off higher oil prices amid strong tech-driven momentum, fuel costs are expected to stay elevated as long as tensions around the Strait persist.The Dow Jones Transportation Average continues its strong run, but the rally is being heavily skewed by Avis Budget Group’s massive short squeeze.The index has hit its 10th intraday record high in 11 sessions and is up 34% over the past month, with Avis alone contributing a disproportionate share of the gains after a more than 600% surge.As the highest-priced stock in the price-weighted index, Avis carries outsized influence, significantly amplifying its impact on overall performance.Even so, the broader index has still managed to edge to fresh highs excluding Avis, pointing to underlying strength beyond just one stock.Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained light even after Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran.The key shipping lane has yet to fully reopen, with Iran continuing to exert control over vessel movement while the US maintains its blockade of Iranian ports and ships.Only about six vessels, including three oil tankers, transited the strait on Wednesday, roughly unchanged from the previous day and below earlier levels seen this week, according to tracking data.The Dow Jones Transportation Average has been on a strong run, hitting its 10th intraday record high in the past 11 sessions and jumping 34% over the last month.Much of that surge, however, is being driven by Avis Budget Group, whose stock has skyrocketed more than 600% in a massive short squeeze. As the highest-priced stock in the index, Avis carries outsized influence in the price-weighted benchmark, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the recent gains.Even excluding Avis, the index has still managed to edge to fresh highs, supported by strength across transport names like J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Old Dominion Freight Line, and Ryder System.Still, caution remains warranted, as sharp short squeezes can reverse quickly, making elevated levels risky for fresh long positions in transportation-focused ETFs.Palantir Technologies shares rose over 3% after the company signed a $300 million agreement with the US Department of Agriculture.Under the deal, Palantir will provide software to improve service delivery for farmers and field staff, including tools to simplify acreage reporting and speed up disaster recovery payments under the “One Farmer, One File” initiative.The agreement will also help the USDA enhance visibility into agricultural risks, including supply chain resilience and external threats.The Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.3% to a new all-time intraday high of 24,570.66 on Wednesday.The move underscores a sharp turnaround from last month, when the index had slipped into correction territory amid escalating Iran war tensions, before rebounding strongly to record levels.Technology and industrial stocks continued to lead the market, with chipmakers extending their record-breaking run.The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) is on track for a historic 16-session winning streak, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) has logged ten straight intraday record highs.The rally has lifted a broad range of sectors and stocks, with semiconductors and tech hardware names driving momentum, alongside strength in industrials and transportation-linked shares.Netflix can drive growth by raising prices rather than relying on subscriber additions, according to Wolfe Research.Analyst Peter Supino said the streaming giant’s strong share of viewer attention positions it well to increase pricing over time, even without significant engagement growth.With users already spending a large portion of their daily viewing time on Netflix, the firm expects the platform to remain central to subscribers’ routines, supporting its pricing strategy as it shifts focus toward profitability.Netflix can drive growth by raising prices rather than relying on subscriber additions, according to Wolfe Research.Analyst Peter Supino said the streaming giant’s strong share of viewer attention positions it well to increase pricing over time, even without significant engagement growth.With users already spending a large portion of their daily viewing time on Netflix, the firm expects the platform to remain central to subscribers’ routines, supporting its pricing strategy as it shifts focus toward profitability.Wall Street looked set for a firm opening on Wednesday, with stocks rising in early trade as US President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran, offering investors a breather amid lingering geopolitical tensions and a busy earnings slate.US equities moved higher shortly after the open, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 0.8%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 385 points, or 0.8%.Futures had already signalled the positive start, with contracts tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average up about 335 points, while those linked to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively, pointing to a rebound after the previous session’s losses.The upside comes even as the broader narrative around the US-Iran conflict remains fragile. Trump’s decision to prolong the truce — citing a “seriously fractured” Iranian government, has bought time, but uncertainty persists after peace talks stalled. US officials have reportedly paused diplomatic efforts, while Tehran has dismissed negotiations as unproductive, keeping markets on edge.
At 18:50 IST, crude prices traded higher, with West Texas Intermediate rising to $91.27 (+1.78%) and Brent crude at $99.92 (+1.46%).Coca-Cola could serve as a reliable hedge in volatile markets, according to JPMorgan.The bank reiterated its overweight rating on the stock with a price target of $83, implying about 11% upside. Analyst Andrea Teixeira described the company as an “all-weather” play, citing its ability to navigate shifting macro conditions.While not immune to broader economic pressures, Coca-Cola is seen as relatively insulated from inflationary costs and well-positioned to maintain consumer demand across both value and premium segments.The company is set to report earnings before the bell on April 28, with shares up nearly 7% so far this year.Robinhood’s retail-focused investment vehicle has taken a stake in OpenAI, expanding its exposure to private tech firms.The Robinhood Ventures Fund I invested $75 million in the AI company, marking one of its largest bets since the fund began trading earlier this year.Sarah Pinto said the investment reflects the fund’s goal of giving everyday investors access to transformative companies shaping the future.Boeing shares rose more than 3% in premarket trading after the company reported a narrower-than-expected first-quarter loss.The planemaker posted an adjusted loss of 20 cents per share, beating estimates for a steeper loss, while revenue came in at $22.22 billion, also ahead of expectations.Boeing also said it expects certification for its 737 Max 7 and Max 10 jets this year, with deliveries likely to begin in 2027.NewsLive TVMarketPopular CategoriesCalculatorsTrending NowLet's Connect with CNBCTV 18Network 18 Group :©TV18 Broadcast Limited. All rights reserved.