Stocks ended the week strongly, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posting impressive gains despite persistent uncertainty surrounding global trade tensions and shifting geopolitical narratives. Risk appetite returned to Wall Street, driven by strong corporate earnings and optimism about the resilience of the U.S. economy.
The S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to close the week higher, while the Nasdaq outperformed with a 0.9% gain, continuing its trend of tech-sector dominance. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, ending the week with a modest 47-point, or 0.1%, decline, reflecting broader hesitations in more cyclical sectors.
A major boost to sentiment came from Alphabet, Google’s parent company, which easily surpassed Wall Street expectations for its first-quarter earnings. Alphabet reported revenue of $90.23 billion and earnings per share of $2.81, outperforming analyst forecasts of $89.12 billion in revenue and $2.01 per share in earnings. The strong showing reaffirmed confidence in the technology sector’s earnings power even amid macroeconomic headwinds.
Tesla also staged a notable rally, surging nearly 10% during the week. Investors responded positively to CEO Elon Musk’s announcement that he would step back from his DOGE-related role in the U.S. government. The move reassured markets that Tesla’s leadership would refocus on its core business. Additionally, the Department of Transportation introduced new self-driving vehicle rules that appeared favorable to Tesla’s ambitions, boosting hopes for faster regulatory adoption.
A Solid Week for Stocks and Crypto
The S&P 500 climbed more than 4% over the week, while the Nasdaq soared more than 6%, marking one of the best weekly performances of 2025 so far. Although the Dow lagged its peers, it still managed to close 2% higher, contributing to the broader market’s bullish mood.
Bitcoin also recorded its best week since November, gaining around 1.6%. The leading cryptocurrency now appears poised to retest the critical $100,000 level in the coming days, buoyed by rising institutional flows, strong ETF demand, and broader market optimism.
Despite the positive market sentiment, investors navigated a turbulent news cycle filled with mixed signals on global trade. Conflicting remarks from President Donald Trump and Chinese officials left markets guessing about the future of the U.S.-China trade relationship. Trump alternated between touting possible trade deals and doubling down on tariff threats, fueling intermittent volatility even as equities continued to rally.
Crypto analysts believe that Bitcoin’s bullish momentum could intensify if traditional market volatility persists, with digital assets increasingly viewed as a hedge against macro uncertainty. However, some caution that if trade tensions escalate sharply, risk assets like Bitcoin could still face short-term corrections before resuming their uptrend.
